Exciting Weekend Ahead in the English Football League
Anticipating some Championship action after the international break? So are we.
Clubs in the second tier have been active during their downtime, with both farewells and welcomes in the dugouts. Meanwhile, Sheffield's teams have added new players ahead of the Steel City derby at Hillsborough this Sunday.
Changes are also occurring lower down the leagues, with a familiar face returning to Plymouth in League One, and in League Two, struggling Bristol Rovers face an old adversary.
Here are five key points to watch for across the English Football League this weekend.
A Clash of Blunted Steel
This Sunday, Hillsborough will host the first Steel City derby of the season, but with both teams currently in the bottom three, predicting the outcome is challenging.
No other Championship club has conceded more goals than Sheffield Wednesday (29), while Sheffield United has scored the fewest (11). To secure a victory, both teams must address their respective weaknesses, and they have both looked northward for solutions.
Wednesday has signed former Leeds United defender Liam Cooper to strengthen their defense for the remainder of the season, while the Blades have acquired striker Patrick Bamford until January after his departure from Leeds in August.
However, the deciding factor may not be personnel changes, but rather the energy from the fans in the stadium. While the Blades feel mired in difficulties, the Owls are beginning to sense a turnaround despite their administration issues. Regardless of their future in League One, the atmosphere is becoming more positive.
“There’s been a significant change in energy since the administrator took over,” said manager Henrik Pedersen in an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield. “People are looking forward to the future, and you can feel a different energy in the stadium now.”
The Owls have yet to win at Hillsborough this season, and securing those first three points at home against their fierce rivals would be particularly gratifying.
Can Clement Make the Canaries Sing?
If Sheffield's teams are struggling, Norwich City is facing similar challenges. The Canaries are winless in their last 11 matches, sitting second from bottom in the Championship and have yet to earn any points at Carrow Road this season.
Their recent loss to Leicester City marked their seventh home defeat, leading to fan frustration that culminated in chants for sporting director Ben Knapper's dismissal as they left the stadium, along with an online petition for his removal.
In response, it was head coach Liam Manning who was relieved of his duties, leaving Knapper to make a crucial appointment to alleviate the pressure from disgruntled fans. His choice is former Rangers manager Philippe Clement, who will take charge for the first time when Norwich visits Birmingham City on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.
“I’m fully aware of the situation we’re in—we need to turn things around quickly and climb up the table,” Knapper stated to BBC Radio Norfolk. “Philippe is precisely the type of head coach who can help us achieve that.”
In the Interim
Norwich is not the only club to recently part ways with an underperforming manager. Southampton has seen a resurgence since the dismissal of Will Still, leading to interim manager Tonda Eckert being given an extended opportunity while the Saints search for a permanent replacement.
Southampton won both of their games under Eckert before the break and will aim to maintain that momentum against a challenging Charlton Athletic side on Saturday at 12:30 GMT. Charlton is managed by Nathan Jones, one of six managers previously in the same position as Eckert under Southampton’s tumultuous ownership.
Meanwhile, Swansea City is traveling to Bristol City after parting ways with boss Alan Sheehan on November 11. Maritimo head coach Vitor Matos is the frontrunner to take over, although Swansea's talks with Hammarby boss Kim Hellberg have not yielded results. Instead, Hellberg is expected to take the managerial role at Middlesbrough, who are still recovering from Rob Edwards' departure.
Middlesbrough managed to bounce back with a solid performance against Birmingham City under interim manager Adi Viveash and will next face Oxford United on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.
Must-Wins at Either End of the League One Table
Bradford City surprised many with their strong start to the League One season, but cracks are beginning to show. They are winless in their last five league matches (D4 L1), have slipped to third, and are in danger of falling out of the playoff spots altogether.
To end their dry spell, they must defeat fourth-placed Bolton Wanderers on Saturday at 15:00 GMT, a challenging task as Bolton is currently on a three-match winning streak.
At the other end of the table, Plymouth Argyle is also in dire straits, having lost four consecutive matches and now sitting at the bottom. They have appointed former manager Derek Adams as their new director of football to help turn things around.
Adams led Argyle to promotion to League One in 2017 and will provide valuable insights to under-pressure head coach Tom Cleverley. “He’s had promotions in the lower leagues before, and I’d be foolish not to seek his advice on how to build a competitive squad,” Cleverley stated.
Plymouth will face 22nd-placed Port Vale in Saturday’s early kick-off at 12:30 GMT, with Port Vale also seeking to escape the bottom four after a winless streak of six games.
The Gas Face an Old Foe to End Poor Losing Run
Bristol Rovers are on a six-match losing streak in League Two. However, what better way to break this slump than with a victory over a rival they would love to defeat?
Back in 2015, Steve Cotterill led Bristol City to an EFL Trophy victory and promotion to the Championship, leaving a divided legacy across the city. Now managing Cheltenham Town, Cotterill’s past at Ashton Gate is not fondly remembered in north Bristol.
The Gas will make the 40-mile journey to Whaddon Road on Saturday at 15:00 GMT to face Cotterill, under the guidance of Darrell Clarke, a manager well-acquainted with Cheltenham Town.