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 the Potters visit the CBS Arena, and their meeting carries narrative weight: Coventry sit top after a blistering start, while Stoke have surged into the automatic places on the back of three straight wins, scoring freely and conceding rarely. Stoke’s defence has been impressive (only nine conceded in 14), while Coventry lead the division for goals. Their last encounter had late, dramatic twists; another big game and fine margins are on the cards. Also worth watching: Preston, despite injuries, have won three in a row and could briefly leapfrog into the top two with a win at Millwall.
3) Who’s climbing the points table in 2025?
A quick quiz: which clubs have taken the most points in calendar 2025 so far? It’s not the obvious Championship names. Birmingham lead the way with a huge points haul following back-to-back 4-0 wins; League One leaders Stockport are second for 2025 points, and surprising Charlton sit third after a dramatic late victory over West Brom. Newly promoted Wrexham have also steadied and will test Saturday’s visitors — Nathan Jones returns to Wrexham this weekend with Charlton hoping to keep up. The Championship is proving unpredictable: newly promoted and previously unexpected sides are mixing it with more established names.
4) Mid-table churn and alarming slides in League One
League One is tight — three points separate the top six — and the table includes some unexpected occupants. Cardiff are the only relegated Championship side really challenging; others such as Peterborough and Blackpool have struggled and managers have already changed at several clubs. Two teams many tipped for promotion, Huddersfield and recently relegated Plymouth, meet after both have lost three on the spin. Plymouth have struggled badly, with a run of nine defeats in 14 leaving them perilously placed, while Huddersfield are also drifting away from the play-off places. In a division this unforgiving, pressure mounts quickly and managerial decisions loom.
5) League Two chaos — Walsall’s wobble and a crowded top
League Two remains gloriously unpredictable: the top 13 sides are separated by just five points. Walsall, who piled up 19 points from seven games earlier in the campaign and led much of last season before fading, have dropped to a single point from their past three fixtures and now visit rock-bottom Newport. A defeat could see them tumble down the table by the weekend’s end. The fourth tier’s volatility means positions change fast; form streaks and collapses are common, so nothing is settled yet.
What to expect
Expect more twists and subplots: managers facing former clubs, surprise leaders and streaks that define short-term fortunes. The Championship continues to throw up entertaining contests between in-form sides; League One and Two remain tight and unpredictable. For fans, it’s another weekend where momentum matters and the usual certainties look less certain than ever.
