Five things in the EFL: Dugout debuts and top tussles

After a dramatic and history-making FA Cup third-round weekend, the English Football League is sure to produce its own eye-catching stories in the latest round of games.

Two new Championship managers take the helm in Oxford’s Matt Bloomfield and Eric Ramsay of West Bromwich Albion, both with heavy-hitting opponents to contend with as their welcoming party.

Over in League One and League Two there are spicy top-of-the-table showdowns, while Shrewsbury and Harrogate face each other with hopes of keeping hold of a little faith from their downhearted fans.

There are two new faces on the Championship managerial block – one we know reasonably well and the other… well, not so much.

Matt Bloomfield is back in the second tier to try to make amends for his relegation with Luton, tasked with saving an Oxford United side who have spent too much of the season looking downwards.

It took the U’s over two weeks to name Bloomfield as Gary Rowett’s successor, and his appointment has raised a few eyebrows after leaving the Hatters 11th in League One, with his replacement Jack Wilshire lifting them into play-off contention.

He can settle a few nerves on Saturday (15:00 GMT) should he perform well in his first game in charge against Bristol City, who have scored 10 across their past three games in all competitions – five against Portsmouth in the Championship and another five against Watford in the FA Cup, either side of a defeat by Preston.

If that seems a hard task for Bloomfield, new West Brom boss Ramsay’s introduction is a true baptism of fire as they host second-placed Middlesbrough on Friday (20:00 GMT).

The Baggies job is be former Manchester United coach Ramsay’s first foray into the world of English football management.

Many will have their eyes on what the Welshman can produce from an Albion side who do not seem to be clicking, in a match that Ramsay has labelled an “acid test” for the job at hand.

“My starting points as a coach will always be what are the players’ strengths and how do you make sure you’re seeing the best of them?” Ramsay told BBC Radio WM.

The M69 derby is back for round two on Saturday (12:30 GMT), but while it may have been a goalless encounter between Leicester City and Coventry City at King Power Stadium in September, neither will want to settle for similar at CBS Arena.

Four points may not seem like a big gap to the top six, but with a potential points deduction still looming over Leicester, they cannot continue to let any more valuable points slip through the net or they would risk a flat end to an already underwhelming season.

But as the Foxes look to climb the Championship mountain, Coventry’s grip on the summit spot seems to be loosening.

Where they once seemed sure things for the title, a three-match winless run in the league and an FA Cup defeat by Stoke has shown a vulnerability that has got those beneath them licking their lips.

Watford boss Javi Gracia has Vicarage Road buzzing with excitement after winning four successive matches in an undefeated run of seven Championship games.

It has left them sixth in the table and hungry for more. But after being humbled 5-1 by an impressive Bristol City in the FA Cup last Saturday – albeit with a much-changed line-up – the Hornets’ nest may have been disturbed.

They will need to regroup quickly as they welcome fifth-placed Millwall, where head coach Alex Neil has his Lions purring.

Cardiff City would pull seven points ahead at the top of League One this weekend should they claim all three points against Bradford and Lincoln City lose against Luton Town.

But while the thought may be dreamy for the Welsh capital side, hosts Bradford will be hoping to serve the high-flying Bluebirds another dose of reality.

Back in September, the reverse fixture saw the Bantams ruffle Cardiff with a 3-1 victory, promoting the winners to the top of the table, and this time around the Yorkshire side will be looking to do the same to reduce their deficit from the summit to just three points.

It’s not only their recent head-to-head that Bradford will have in their pocket; the Valley Parade faithful have only witnessed one defeat for their side this season and given the context of the game, expect them to be in full voice on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT).

“I think both sets of supporters will be excited about it because it’s two teams that have been at the top end of the table since the early weeks,” Bantams boss Graham Alexander told BBC Radio Leeds.

“We had a fantastic game down there [at Cardiff] and obviously we came out on top, but I thought it was a really good game of football from both teams.

No team is having a worse time of it in League Two than Harrogate Town.

The Sulphurites have not won a league game since 27 September and have slipped to second from bottom – but still the embers of hope remain, with just one point separating them from safety.

The panic button may need to be pressed should they not prevail against their Saturday afternoon hosts, Shrewsbury Town (15:00 GMT).

Salop are currently on the worst losing run in the fourth tier with four straight defeats and no wins across their past eight games.

A draw will not be enough for either team – actually it might even see both teams occupying the relegation spots come full-time if Newport win at Gillingham.

But it is not just those at the bottom of the table desperate for a win.

Salford City have been a runaway train of late, undefeated across their past seven league games, and they are just outside the top three on goal difference.

They will want to keep riding the wave all the way to automatic promotion, but first they must get past their first big road block.

The Ammies will visit second-placed Swindon Town (15:00 GMT) and if the Robins’ position in the league was not enough to provoke fear, Ian Holloway’s team will be determined not to concede ground on a Bromley side tearing away at the top.

It will also be the first half of a double billing for the two sides, who face each other again on Tuesday in a delayed FA Cup third-round tussle (19:45 GMT).