EFL Five Talking Points: Graham Alexander’s Preston return, Robbie Savage on the move? Plus Rochdale’s revival

Hello and welcome to my five talking points for this week, the second week of the extended international break. 

We have no Championship matches this weekend, despite that though, we have some big news from Lancashire. 

There’s a tiny handful of matches in League One for us to sink our teeth into. 

League Two has almost a full calendar to choose from, with three postponements due to international call-ups. 

We’ll dive into who could take over at Peterborough United, while also looking at an upturn in form for one of League Two’s strugglers.

Let’s get started with the big news in the Championship…

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Graham Alexander makes emotional return to Preston

Graham Alexander rocked Bradford City this week by announcing his shock departure from the Yorkshire outfit.

The 54-year-old joins Preston North End, whom he played for more than 360 times across two spells.

The Scot joins Preston with the club sitting joint-bottom alongside fellow Lancashire rivals Burnley, with just one win and one draw so far this season.

Alexander has predominantly operated with a 3-4-2-1 formation at Valley Parade and, as is always the case, fans are already wondering if the likes of Bobby Pointon and Aden Baldwin will follow him to Deepdale.

It’s too early to say whether Alexander will pickpocket his old club in January, but managers have been known to do it before.

He leaves the Bantams top of League One, with rumours already circulating that his successor could be Paul Heckingbottom, who he has replaced at Preston.

A trio of games in League One 

Seventh-placed Burton Albion face sixth-placed Huddersfield Town on Saturday, with just three League One games taking place this weekend.

Both teams are level on points and will be hoping to climb the table with victory.

Last time out, Burton beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0, while Huddersfield faltered against Bromley, losing 2-1.

Eleventh-placed Leyton Orient host fourth-placed Plymouth as the Pilgrims look to bounce back from that defeat to Gary Bowyer’s men.

Orient will want to build on their 1-0 win over Stevenage last weekend. Following the visit of Plymouth, Richie Wellens’ side travel to league leaders Bradford, who travel to face Reading in our final League One game of the weekend.

The Bantams have lost just twice in seven outings and sit top of the table. However, the Royals could move within a point of the visitors with a win.

Mark Trueman has taken charge of Bradford this week and will continue to do so as he looks to make the transition to life without Alexander at the helm as seamless as possible.

Some tasty clashes in League Two 

In the early kick-off, Chesterfield face Tranmere Rovers with both teams hoping a win can push them up into the playoffs. 

Second-placed Cheltenham Town travel to Accrington Stanley with the hosts in 19th, having won just once so far this season.

With that being said, Accrington is never an easy place to go to for any team, and Cheltenham will be hoping not to get too complacent. 

Crewe Alexandra will put their unbeaten run on the line once again.

This time it’s Bristol Rovers wanting to ruin the home side’s weekend, as they look to improve on their current third place in the standings. 

Elsewhere, Exeter City face Rotherham United, Gillingham host Newport County, Grimsby Town welcome Shrewsbury Town and Salford City entertain Fleetwood Town. 

Robbie Savage on the move?

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince put out a statement on Tuesday, stating that Robbie Savage had been given permission to speak to Peterborough and that the Welshman had “been offered the job, and we’re now in a negotiation with Peterborough on the terms.”

“He wanted to leave the club for personal reasons, reasons which we understand and respect,” Vince added.

The former Macclesfield boss has been rumoured with a move into the EFL this week to take over at the struggling League One outfit, as Posh look to appoint a successor to Luke Williams.

Forest Green sit in mid-table in the National League and have had a mixed start to the season, while Posh haven’t fared much better, with Williams gone and the club languishing in the relegation zone.

Former MK Dons and Oxford United boss Karl Robinson has also allegedly been spotted at London Road recently.

Rochdale’s recent upturn in form 

Rochdale started the season poorly, hovering near the bottom of League Two.

Ian Watson’s side endured a tough August, losing their first three games against Crawley Town, Colchester United and Newport.

That changed in September, though, when Dale beat Shrewsbury 3-0.

They also picked up victories over Lancashire rivals Oldham Athletic and then Fleetwood, with the latter a particularly impressive 2-1 win on the road.

Those results have pushed Watson’s side into 16th place, with Rochdale now hoping to continue their climb up the standings.

They face Swindon Town at home this weekend, giving them another opportunity to build on that recent run of form.

A lot can change in football in a week, so I’ll be back next week with five more talking points.

As always, thank you for reading.

READ MORE: Graham Alexander makes ‘special’ return to Preston North End as manager