Not every EFL side had a fortnight off during the international break, with League One and League Two teams continuing their campaigns while players were away representing their countries. October still offers a fresh start across the divisions, and the weekend card is full of derbies, managerial returns and debuts.
West Bromwich Albion return to action with another West Midlands derby, welcoming Birmingham City to The Hawthorns on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST). Albion are fifth in the Championship, three points above 10th-placed Birmingham. Defender Conor Townsend called their 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers their ‘worst performance of the season’, and the Baggies will not want another local rival using them as a stepping stone. Birmingham could leapfrog their hosts with a win. Last season, the sides shared the points in both Championship meetings, with one goal each.
Southampton host Portsmouth at St Mary’s on Sunday (12:00 BST) in a south-coast derby that has often been tight. The teams have drawn four of their past five meetings, and last season’s meetings fell flat despite high expectation. Southampton may feel buoyed now that Spygate is behind them: boss Tonda Eckert was given a six-week suspended ban by the FA for his role in the controversy. Southampton were also expelled from the Championship play-off final last season and given a four-point penalty for this season after the Spygate scandal. Portsmouth arrive on a three-match unbeaten run and will hope the focus on Eckert’s punishment distracts their opponents from local pride.
Steven Schumacher returns to Stoke City with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (15:00 BST). Schumacher left a promoted and thriving Plymouth Argyle for the Bet365 Stadium in December 2023 but was sacked in September after 32 games. He is back in the Championship after leading Bolton to promotion, and Bolton have shown fight: three of their four losses have been by a single goal, and they have won their past two games to sit three points short of the play-off positions. Stoke are on a five-match undefeated run (W4 D1) under Mark Robins, who was appointed in January 2025 after Narcis Pelach lasted just three months. Former Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town defender Luke Chambers told the 72+ podcast that Stoke have impressed him, especially in recent weeks.
Graham Alexander returns to Preston North End, where he made 410 appearances and became club captain, 14 years after his retirement. He calls the club ‘special’, but the challenge is huge: Preston are kept off the bottom of the Championship by just one goal and have managed a solitary win this season. They face Millwall on Saturday (15:00 BST), a team beleaguered with injuries but still two points off the play-off positions. Alexander had previously spent a month as Preston caretaker before taking his first managerial position at Fleetwood later in 2012.
Bradford City begin life after Alexander with Michael Duff in charge. Alexander led the Bantams to promotion in 2025 and a play-off semi-final last season, losing to eventual winners Bolton, and has left them second in League One, level on points with leaders Plymouth Argyle. Duff, the former Wycombe Wanderers boss, takes charge for the first time against Leyton Orient on Saturday (15:00 BST). He told the 72+ podcast he is under no illusions about the pressure at a big club and would rather have that expectancy than play in front of 200 people who do not care if you win.
Robbie Savage takes charge of his first EFL league match as Peterborough United boss against former club Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST). Savage was appointed on 2 October and began with a 4-1 EFL Trophy win over Ipswich Town, with Posh scoring four times in less than 10 minutes. Peterborough are the lowest scorers in League One with four goals in eight games, so Savage faces a huge task to lift them from the bottom. He made 204 appearances for Leicester over a five-year stint as a player. Leicester’s league form has shown signs of life with a win over Stockport and a draw at Barnsley, though Russell Martin is still struggling to win over hearts and minds at the King Power Stadium. Former Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith told the 72+ podcast that Savage is ‘box office’ but has a tough start, with three of his next four away from home, including Huddersfield and Bromley.
Salford City and Cheltenham Town meet on the Robins’ home turf on Saturday (15:00 BST) with awards and top spot in the balance. After three successive losses to open their campaign in August, Salford’s turnaround to rise to the top earned boss Peter Cklamovski the manager of the month award for September. Cheltenham have lost only two games, and midfielder Charlie McCann was named player of the month. If Cheltenham win and other results go their way, they could take Salford’s place at the top. The hosts also have a strong head-to-head record, with just two losses in their nine previous meetings (W5 D2).