Bristol City scored twice in the final ten minutes at Turf Moor on Saturday to extinguish Burnley's hopes of a first Championship win of the season, leaving Nicky Hayen's side rooted to the foot of the table. Former striker and pundit Aaron McLean argues the rot runs deeper than a single result.

Burnley: still suffering the hangover

"They just look like a team that's been relegated and a team that is still suffering from the hangover of last season," McLean said. That phrase cuts to the heart of Burnley's predicament. A squad assembled for top-flight survival now has to rediscover an identity in the Championship, and the transition has been jarring.

Hayen, who took charge over the summer, has yet to instil the cohesion the squad needs. McLean believes the Belgian deserves patience, pointing out that a first win would unlock something in the group. "I think once they get their first win on the board and start to get a little bit of confidence, they have got good players in their squad," he said. "It's far too early in this season to be making decisions on a manager's future."

Burnley's problem, for now, is that grinding out results demands a collective belief that has not yet taken shape. The talent is there; the togetherness is not.

Stoke: building on a brilliant statement

Stoke arrived at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday facing a Charlton side who had been threatening to go top of the division. They left with a 4-0 win that moved them into mid-table and extended their unbeaten run to two games after a dismal opening three defeats.

McLean called it "a real statement of intent", noting that both recent wins have come against sides who had earned strong early-season reputations. Norwich, their previous opponents, were another side McLean expects to improve as the campaign develops, which makes the back-to-back victories more significant than the bare results suggest.

The pundit singled out summer signing Ethan Galbraith as a particularly shrewd piece of recruitment. Manager Mark Robins appears to have steadied the ship after a turbulent start, and McLean believes the foundations are in place for Stoke to finally deliver on the potential that has sat unfulfilled for several seasons.

Millwall: brilliant, baffling, back on track

A 4-0 victory over Bolton at The Den, with two late red cards adding a familiar edge to proceedings, summed up the Lions in miniature. Three wins from five, but also back-to-back defeats sandwiched in between. Millwall under Alex Neil do not do boring.

McLean's verdict was unambiguous: "I fully expect them to be in the shake-up at the end of the season." He accepts that defeats will come, that the Lions trade in extremes rather than consistency. What matters, he argues, is that the squad carries sufficient quality to win more than it loses over the full 46 games.

Lyndon Dykes, who sealed Saturday's win with a late double, typifies the physicality and directness Neil has built into this side. The question for Millwall is whether they can sharpen up in the spells between the emphatic victories. If they can find even a modest improvement in consistency, they have the personnel to stay in the promotion conversation deep into the spring.

The bigger picture

Three Championship clubs, three very different stories after five games. Burnley need their first win before the psychological weight of this start becomes structural. Stoke need to prove Saturday was a turning point rather than a false dawn. Millwall need to iron out the dips that follow their highs. The second tier rarely offers a straightforward narrative, but all three clubs look set to keep their fans occupied well into the winter.

Frequently asked

Why are Burnley bottom of the Championship?
Burnley have yet to win a league match this season and conceded two late goals to Bristol City at Turf Moor on Saturday. Pundit Aaron McLean attributes their struggles to a relegation hangover and a squad still adapting to new manager Nicky Hayen's methods.
How are Stoke City performing in the Championship this season?
Stoke started the season with three straight defeats but have since won back-to-back games, including a 4-0 victory over Charlton, and have climbed into mid-table. Aaron McLean highlighted the signing of Ethan Galbraith as a key factor in their improvement.
Where are Millwall in the Championship table?
Millwall have won three and lost two of their opening five Championship matches. A 4-0 home win over Bolton on Saturday moved them back up the table, with pundit Aaron McLean backing them to remain in contention throughout the season.