Five things to look out for in EFL: Steel City struggle & Norwich’s new era

After the international break, you want some Championship action? We do too.

Clubs in the second tier have been busy in their leisure time, with goodbyes and hellos offered in the dugout, while Sheffield’s finest have brought in new faces for Steel City derby day at Hillsborough on Sunday.

In League One, a well-known face returns to Plymouth, and in League Two, the ex-Original Rovers of Bristol face a familiar face.

The first Steel City derby of the season will take place in Hillsborough on Sunday, but it’s difficult to predict which way it will fall given that both contestants currently reside in the bottom three.

Sheffield Wednesday (29) is the only Championship team to have scored more goals. On the other hand, Sheffield United have found the net the fewest number of times (11).

Both clubs must overcome their flaws in order to succeed, and it appears they both have looked in the same direction: north.

The Blades signed striker Patrick Bamford until January after the 32-year-old left the Whites in August, while Wednesday signed former Leeds United defender Liam Cooper to strengthen their backline for the rest of the season.

Though perhaps the difference at play could be nothing to do with personnel, but with the energy the fans emit around the stadium.

Despite being in administration and whether or not they will be able to make it to League One next season, the Owls are sensing the beginning of the end of their troubles while the Blades are feeling stuck in the mud.

Henrik Pedersen, the administrator’s manager, reported to BBC Radio Sheffield, “There has been a significant change of energy since the administrator took over.”

“There is freedom again and there is belief again. The future is anticipated by everyone. Now, the stadium is feeling a different kind of energy.

Norwich is not doing much better than Sheffield is doing lately if it isn’t having a good time.

The Canaries have won just 11 games this season, placing them second bottom of the standings.

Their loss to Leicester City was their seventh at home and fan frustration hit boiling point, chanting for sport director Ben Knapper’s exit from the club as they left the ground and even starting an online petition for his removal.

Instead, Liam Manning, the boss, was chosen, allowing Knapper to make the necessary transition to relieve the building’s growing pressure on his departure from angry fans.

His choice: Philippe Clement, a former Rangers manager, who will take over the starting role on Saturday when Birmingham City visits them.

“I’m under no illusions about my situation here, and where we are – we need to arrest the situation quickly and climb up the table and Philippe is exactly the kind of head coach that can help us do that”, Knapper told BBC Radio Norfolk.

Not just Norwich, which has recently removed an underperforming manager from their position, is.

Southampton’s performance after Will Still’s dismissal has caused Tonda Eckert to receive an extended stay in the front office while the Saints search for a replacement.

Saints won both their two games under the German before the break and will be looking to continue that form in a visit to a tricky Charlton Athletic side on Saturday lunchtime (12: 30 GMT).

Of course, Nathan Jones is one of six managers who has previously sat in Eckert’s seat during Sport Republic’s somewhat turbulent ownership of Southampton.

Swansea will also travel to Bristol City after losing to Alan Sheehan on November 11 and Maritimo head coach Vitor Matos being the favorite to succeed them.

Though the Swans will be nursing some disappointment after talks with Hammarby boss Kim Hellberg bore no fruit.

Instead, the Swede appears to be taking over as manager of Middlesbrough, a club that is likely still reeling from Rob Edwards’ abandonment of their promotion fight with Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With their excellent season opener, Bradford City had taken League One by surprise, but are the gaps now forming?

They are winless across their past five league games (D4 L1), have slipped to third and in danger of exiting the play-off spots all together.

Given that the Trotters are on a three-game winning streak, they will need to defeat fourth-placed Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (15:00 GMT) to end their dry spell and ensure their place in the top six.

Even at the other end of the table, things appear just as dangerous.

Plymouth Argyle have lost four matches on the bounce to put them in the basement, now adding former boss Derek Adams to their ranks as their new director of football to try to put out the fire.

Adams will act as “a soundboard” for under-pressure boss Tom Cleverley as Argyle earns promotion to League One in 2017.

He’s previously received promotions in lower leagues, and I wouldn’t be foolish to ask him for advice on how to build a squad capable of competing at this level. I believe Derek should have given us some real important advice on these issues.

Rovers of Bristol have lost six straight League Two games but is there any better way to say farewell to a bad patch with a victory over someone they would dearly love to take down?

Steve Cotterill won the League One title in 2015, dividing Bristol City’s hearts and earning them the EFL Trophy that year.

Although the former Cheltenham Town boss is now a different kind of Robin, north Bristol’s reputation for his legacy at Ashton Gate is undoubtedly different.

The Gas will make the 40-mile trip to Whaddon Road on Saturday (15: 00 GMT) to visit Cotterill under the guidance of Darrell Clarke, a man who knows Cheltenham Town all too well after a seven-month spell at the helm in the 2023-24 season.

However, the Robins will have more to play for than resentments. If they win, they can slam ahead of Rovers and put an end to their own two-game losing streak.