Five things to look out for in EFL – Wilder’s return and a top-two tangle

Although it’s still early in the season, this weekend’s EFL lineup will feature some potentially campaign-defining games.

After a terrible start under sacked boss Ruben Selles, Sheffield United ushers in a third era under Chris Wilder in an effort to reclaim their promotion ambitions.

League One leaders Cardiff City and Bradford City square off against each other for a chance to finish second and keep their unbeaten record in League Two, as Gareth Ainsworth’s side attempt to escape the bottom of the table.

Wilder left after only narrowly missing the play-off final, but despite being only a short distance away, the Bramall Lane outfit are nowhere near where he left them.

The Blades will still be suffering from their 5-0 thrashing against Ipswich Town last time out, and Selles’ reign did not yield a single point in five league games, making them the last EFL club to remain in motion.

Even though the 57-year-old is not hysteric about the circumstances surrounding his appointment, many people are now much more optimistic about the future as they face Charlton Athletic on Saturday (15:00 BST).

“I’m not looking to enter this place and get smug about it,” he said. We are the bottom of the division, and my football team is one of them. We’ve lost six overall, which is unacceptable, Wilder said on BBC Radio Sheffield.

Coventry City struggled to make it up the M69 for the 24.5 miles to the King Power Stadium.

The Sky Blues have never won at Leicester City since moving to their current stadium in 2002, but the West Midlands side will relish their chance to remedy that when they travel to Saturday (12:30 BST).

In their previous encounter, the Foxes needed to score twice to take advantage of a struggling Oxford United side, whose rivals are only able to score one point in the Championship table.

According to Foxes podcaster Jordan Halford, “Coventry is probably our hardest test of the season so far on paper.”

Although both League One clubs have recently joined, Cardiff and Bradford City are both putting their stamp on the third division.

The Bantams are now five wins away from League Two (D2 L1), with the most recent notable being a confident 3-1 victory over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield, to keep them level on points with league leaders Cardiff and brimming with confidence.

The Bluebirds have impressed with their young squad, who have only played one game this season against Bradford.

In a bid to stay at the top, the Welsh side only just managed to draw against a dominant Stockport side last weekend when they prepare to play an experienced Bantams on Saturday (15:00 BST) in a bid to stay there.

Brian Barry-Murphy, the manager of Cardiff, told BBC Sport Wales, “We saw a clear sign last Saturday that we weren’t at our best in our efforts to defeat Stockport.”

Steven Schumacher, the manager of the Bolton Wanderers, and Ryan Lowe, the head coach of Wigan Athletic, once collaborated. Along with Plymouth Argyle, behind the scenes, and on the Bury pitch.

They cross paths again this Saturday at 12:30 BST.

They have previously squared off three times as opposing managers, with Schumacher winning the first game, an M61 derby victory over Bolton, at the previous previous club Stoke City, over Lowe’s Preston, and then continuing the momentum with an earlier win.

The 41-year-old is anticipating a second, frenzied battle in front of a home crowd.

We have known each other for a long time and are now mates. We are friends, and playing with and working together is never easy, Schumacher said on BBC Radio Manchester.

Gillingham may not be currently in league two, but they are unquestionably the most successful side in the fourth division.

Since Gareth Ainsworth took over from Shrewsbury Town in March, the Gills haven’t lost in the league since, keeping them level with Swindon Town in the new campaign on points.

This makes it difficult for next opponents Newport County, who have had their fair share of losses this season, to come out on top of League Two after eight games.

The Exiles ended a six-game losing streak last weekend with a late draw at Tranmere Rovers, and Newport chairman Huw Jenkins has faith in his side ahead of Saturday’s clash with Gillingham.

“We must not be bound by any one’s opinion of what we are doing if we want to succeed.” We must respect our adversaries as we move forward, Jenkins said on BBC Radio Wales.

“Football has evolved and changed significantly over the past few years, and League Two teams have unquestionably risen significantly.”