Another international break approaches and, with most teams about a third of the way through the season, the 2025–26 EFL campaign feels unusually open. The FA Cup first round is done, the Championship’s gruelling “nine-point weeks” keep coming, and across all three divisions there are familiar faces meeting former clubs, surprising runs and plenty of subplot drama. Five things to watch this weekend:
1) John Eustace’s return to Ewood Derby travel to Blackburn in what will be Eustace’s first match back at Ewood Park since leaving Rovers in February. He swapped a side fighting for the play-offs for a Rams team battling relegation; Blackburn eventually finished seventh under Valérien Ismaël while Eustace guided Derby to 19th. Several former Rovers — Andi Weimann, Danny Batth and captain Lewis Travis — have since joined him at Pride Park, adding extra spice. Both clubs arrive in good form: Derby have won four in a row and Blackburn three, so expect a high-stakes clash where at least one of those streaks will end.
2) Mark Robins versus his old club — and a promotion-season subplot It’s almost a year since Mark Robins was sacked by Coventry and later took charge at Stoke. On Saturday th
