EFL Weekend Preview: League One and League Two battles reach boiling point

The Championship may be on pause for the international break, but there’s still plenty of League One and League Two action to look forward to this weekend.

The relegation battle rages in League One as struggling Blackpool take on Burton Albion, while a resurgent Leyton Orient face an Exeter City side tumbling down the table.

Meanwhile, Stockport County look to further strengthen their play-off push against AFC Wimbledon.

Elsewhere, there is a packed League Two schedule with plenty to play for at both ends of the table.

With so much on the line, here are the biggest storylines to follow this weekend.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed EFL news you need, subscribe to The Football League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

WATCH THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPER PODCAST HERE

Grecians & Seasiders stuck in League One relegation scrap

Not so long ago, Blackpool were fighting in the Premier League, now they face the daunting reality of playing in the fourth tier of English football.

Whilst Ian Evatt’s side held promotion-chasing Cardiff City to a goalless draw last weekend, they have just one win in their seven games (victory over basement side Port Vale).

This Saturday, they face a Burton side who defeated play-off hopefuls Bradford City last time out, but still suffering patchy form to keep them within touching distance of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere in the fight for survival, two sides with contrasting form meet. The O’s have won four on the bounce to move six points clear of the bottom four.

Their opponents this weekend, Exeter, have lost five in a row and without victory in 13 since January.

With the drop looming, bookmakers have made Port Vale, Northampton Town and Rotherham United strong favourites to go down.

Meanwhile, Exeter face a daunting run-in and are slightly less likely than Blackpool to beat the drop, priced at 5/6 with Betnero.

Hatters look to come out on top in League One play-off fight

In the other League One games taking place this weekend, Stockport look to make use of their games in hand to propel them further up the table in the race for the play-off spots.

They have two games in hand on Plymouth Argyle in seventh, and victory over Wimbledon would take them four points clear.

One of their other play-off rivals, Reading, are a point behind Argyle and face Wigan Athletic – who defeated Exeter last time out to boost their survival hopes.

Betnero currently make Stockport 1/14 favourites, behind Bradford and Bolton Wanderers, to secure a play-off spot, with Plymouth 6/4, Reading 15/2, and Stevenage 1/1 all in contention, showing just how tight the battle is between the chasing play-off pack.

Ravens eye promotion as League Two battles heat up

Everywhere you look in League Two, tight battles are brewing – from the race for automatic promotion, to the scramble for a top-seven finish, and the fight to stay in the EFL.

This weekend, all eyes turn to a classic bottom-versus-top clash as Barrow host a formidable Bromley side on course for promotion to League One.

The formlines couldn’t be more contrasting: the Ravens are unbeaten in 2026 and have not lost since November, while the Bluebirds have gone winless in their last eight outings.

Second-from bottom Harrogate Town host Notts County, who are looking to break into the top three.

Barnet, who upset MK Dons last weekend, face another challenge against promotion-chasing opposition against third-placed Cambridge United.

The Bees are trying to launch a promotion bid of their own, five points off from the play-offs.

Elsewhere odds of 17/20 suggest Bromley are the clear favourites to secure the League Two title this season.

Meanwhile, the play-off race is wide open: Salford City sit at 2/7 for a top-seven finish, with Grimsby Town 4/6, Chesterfield 11/10, and Oldham Athletic 7/4 all in the mix.

At the other end of the table, Harrogate Town (1/3) and Barrow (4/7) are still seen as most likely to drop out of the EFL.

READ MORE: EFL weekend round-up: Coventry City and Lincoln City march on as West Brom grab vital win