Plenty of talking points are emerging across the EFL as the season begins to take shape.
In the Championship, a number of clubs are finding form early, while others are still searching for consistency.
Promotion hopefuls face tricky tests, and local rivalries add extra bite to the weekend.
League One sees some of the division’s biggest sides on very different trajectories, with unbeaten runs on the line and pressure already building for a few managers.
Transfer business continues to shape squads, with new signings looking to make an immediate impact.
With momentum crucial in these early weeks, this weekend could offer a clearer picture of who’s settling in for a strong campaign, and who’s already playing catch-up.
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Wrexham still seeking first win
Millwall welcome Wrexham to The Den on Saturday, with Alex Neil’s side looking to continue their strong start to the season.
The Lions have won two of their opening three Championship matches and will be confident against a Wrexham side still searching for their first league win since promotion from League One.
Phil Parkinson’s men have found the step up challenging and let a two-goal lead slip against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
This marks the first league meeting between the two sides since 2001, and Millwall will hope to extend their impressive home form.
Wrexham, meanwhile, will need to tighten up defensively and find some cutting edge if they’re to kickstart their season and prove they can compete at this level.
Two recently relegated sides face off in League One
Relegated from the Championship last season, Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle have experienced contrasting starts in League One.
Cardiff, under new boss Brian Barry-Murphy, have hit the ground running, sitting top of the table with four wins and a draw from five matches.
The Bluebirds have conceded just once in the league and come into Saturday’s clash on a run of four straight clean sheets in all competitions.
Plymouth, meanwhile, find themselves in the relegation zone with just one win and four defeats.
Despite a much-needed victory over Blackpool, pressure remains on head coach Tom Cleverley after another cup exit in midweek.
Having shipped five goals in two away losses, the Pilgrims face a tough test against a confident Cardiff side, scoring freely at home.
The winless derby in League Two
There’s a “winless derby” as Shrewsbury Town host Accrington Stanley on Saturday, with both sides still searching for their first League Two victory of the season.
Salop will take encouragement from their midweek 3-1 EFL Trophy win over Chelsea U21s, with young talent Callum Stewart impressing and possibly in line for his first league start.
Fan-favourite Shaun Whalley returns to the Croud Meadow for the first time in four years, now wearing Accrington colours.
The veteran winger, who made over 250 appearances for Town, admits the visit is an emotional one.
Accrington, like Shrewsbury, have had a stuttering start, though a cup win over Peterborough recently showed their potential.
Both teams will be desperate to kick-start their league campaigns with three points.
Ipswich buoyed by new signing
Ipswich Town have boosted their squad ahead of this weekend’s clash with Derby County by signing midfielder Marcelino Nunez from rivals Norwich City in a £10 million deal.
The Chile international, who made 119 appearances for the Canaries, becomes the first player to move directly between the East Anglian clubs since 2001.
Nunez, currently recovering from an ankle knock, could be key in filling the void left by former captain Sam Morsy. His arrival follows the recent signings of Darnell Furlong and Ivan Azon as Ipswich look to ignite their season.
Both the Tractor Boys and the Rams remain winless in the Championship and will see Saturday’s meeting as a chance to get on track.
Perfect Potters face test
Stoke City have made a perfect start to the Championship under Mark Robins, winning all three of their league matches and sitting top of the table alongside Middlesbrough.
Their latest league victory came impressively with a 2-1 win at Southampton, thanks to goals from Lewis Baker and Sorba Thomas.
While a heavy midweek defeat to Bradford in the EFL Cup was a setback, the Potters will be aiming to prove that was just a blip when they return to the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.
However, West Bromwich Albion present their toughest test yet. Ryan Mason’s side are unbeaten in the league and just two points off the top.
A win could lift them into the automatic promotion spots, but they’ll need to overcome a poor away record in 2025.
East Midlands v West Midlands
A Midlands clash with added edge takes place on Friday night as East meets West, with Leicester hosting Birmingham in what could be a fiery encounter at the King Power Stadium.
While not the fiercest derby for either club, local pride and early-season momentum are both on the line.
Marti Cifuentes has guided Leicester to two wins from three in the Championship, most recently edging Charlton Athletic 1-0 thanks to Abdul Fatawu’s strike.
The Foxes sit seventh and will look to extend a dominant head-to-head record, unbeaten in nine against Birmingham, including six straight wins.
The visitors, though, are flying high in fifth after an unbeaten league start under Chris Davies.
A third consecutive league win would send Blues top, but they haven’t beaten Leicester since 2011.
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