Five EFL talking points ahead of the weekend’s games including Bristol City’s potential takeover

By Rob Beezley

The EFL enters its second weekend of the campaign, with plenty of talking points emerging from an action-packed opening round of fixtures.

In the Championship, Lincoln City came agonisingly close to taking a point against play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough, only for Boro to snatch victory in stoppage time through former Tottenham Hotspur forward Will Lankshear. 

His late strike cancelled out Adam Reach’s opener as the Imps battled valiantly throughout.

Elsewhere, relegated sides Burnley and West Ham United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Sunday, giving both clubs an early taste of life back in the Championship.

League One produced plenty of goals, with Luton Town fighting back from behind to beat Reading 4-3 in a scintillating contest. 

Huddersfield Town made an early statement with a comfortable 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon, while Stockport County also impressed with a 3-1 win against Plymouth Argyle.

League Two was no less dramatic, with Crewe Alexandra’s 1-0 victory over Crawley Town featuring an unprecedented three red cards in a fiery encounter. 

Promoted York City also made a winning start, edging Bristol Rovers 3-2, while Rochdale suffered a 3-0 defeat to Newport County after being reduced to 10 men.

With another weekend of action approaching, here are five talking points to keep an eye on.

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Early-season derby games

It may only be the second weekend of competitive football, but there are already several local rivalries to look forward to.

West Ham face Charlton Athletic in a London derby at the London Stadium this Saturday, with the Hammers looking to build on their draw with fellow relegated side Burnley. 

Charlton, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Derby County.

League One also brings an East Midlands derby as Leicester City welcome Burton Albion. 

The Foxes were held to a 1-1 draw by Notts County last weekend in a game Russell Martin’s side would have expected to win, while Burton opened their league campaign with the same scoreline against Stevenage.

There are two derbies to look forward to in League Two. 

Rotherham United host York, with the visitors hoping to build on their opening-day victory.

Swindon Town, meanwhile, take on Cheltenham Town in the first West Country derby of the campaign.

Early pace-setters: Can they maintain their form?

The opening weekend has already given us an early glimpse of which sides could set the pace, but maintaining that momentum over an entire campaign is a different challenge.

In the Championship, Millwall and Queens Park Rangers both made winning starts by two-goal margins. 

Huddersfield Town went one better in League One, scoring three without reply against AFC Wimbledon, while Walsall and Newport both enjoyed three-goal victories in League Two.

For Huddersfield, the question will be whether they can sustain their early momentum. 

The Terriers also started strongly last season before their form fell away dramatically in October. 

This time around, they will be hoping to avoid a repeat.

The low block: Why are teams struggling to break it down?

The low block appears to be making a comeback, with several sides opting to surrender possession, remain compact and frustrate opponents by limiting the space available in the final third.

Middlesbrough’s victory over Lincoln was a good example of how effective the approach can be. 

The Imps spent long periods frustrating the home side and limiting their opportunities, only to be denied a point by Lankshear’s late winner.

With Lincoln expected to face a battle near the bottom of the Championship this season, a disciplined defensive approach could prove important as they look to pick up points against the division’s stronger sides.

Newport, Bromley and Fleetwood Town have also shown signs of using similar tactics, particularly when facing teams expected to dominate possession. 

As the season develops, it will be interesting to see whether more sides turn to the low block as a way of frustrating the so-called ‘better teams’.

Could Bristol City be the subject of a takeover?

Bristol City supporters have been given something to discuss this week following reports of potential investment from Greek gaming company Betano.

Any takeover or investment could provide the Championship club with additional funds to pursue transfer targets in future windows, as well as potentially supporting wider improvements at the club.

The Robins appointed Michael Skubala over the summer and made several additions to their squad, but their campaign got off to a disappointing start with a 2-0 home defeat to Millwall.

With plenty still to be decided both on and off the pitch, the potential investment is one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Could Cambridge United be a dark horse in League One?

It may be too early to make bold predictions, but Cambridge United have certainly given themselves reason for optimism.

The U’s won two of their pre-season friendlies before defeating Barnet 2-1 in the League Cup. 

They then carried that momentum into the league, securing an impressive 3-2 victory over Wigan Athletic on the opening weekend.

Bromley will provide a different test this Saturday, but another positive result could further strengthen the feeling that Cambridge have the potential to surprise a few teams this season.

The League One table, like the rest of the EFL, will begin to take shape as the weekend unfolds, with plenty more questions likely to emerge.

READ MORE: Five talking points from the opening weekend of the 2026/27 EFL season