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Homecomings, homecomings everywhere

A side-by-side image of Alex Neil, Mark Robins and John Eustace all watching on from the dugout at their respective matchesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Alex Neil (left) managed Preston from 2017 until 2021, Mark Robins (middle) was sacked by Coventry in 2024 and John Eustace (right) left Blackburn to join Derby in 2025

Life as a Championship manager runs in the fast lane… so quick that before you know it you end up back at the place you once called home donning a brand new club crest on your chest.

That’s the case for several second-tier bosses on Saturday – but who will enjoy their reunions?

Mark Robins takes his Stoke side to leaders Coventry hoping their win over Oxford on Wednesday will kickstart their season once again having fallen from second before Christmas to 13th.

Derby boss John Eustace hosts former side Blackburn Rovers, who despite a loss to Bristol City in midweek have improved under new boss Michael O’Neill. The Rams need to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats has seen them lose ground on the top six.

Alex Neil takes his high-flying Millwall side to Preston’s Deepdale, a club he managed for four years, as the Lions seek to close the gap on second-placed Middlesbrough before Boro visit Birmingham on Monday.

Nolan seeking salvation on the Nene

A photo of Kevin Nolan looking downbeat after Northampton Town's loss to Port Vale on TuesdayImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kevin Nolan’s Northampton have fallen into the League One drop zone

Warmer weather may be on the horizon but Northampton Town boss Kevin Nolan may be skating on thin ice.

His Cobblers side have lost their past three games to drop into the relegation zone but, crucially, their fate is far from sealed.

A win on Saturday against neighbours Peterborough could see them climb out of the bottom three and give a much needed boost to fans who saw former boss Jon Brady’s Port Vale beat them at Sixfields on Tuesday.

“We really believe we can turn a corner and hopefully that’s going to be here on Saturday,” Nolan told BBC Radio Northampton.

“We know it’s going to be a really good atmosphere and hopefully we can turn a derby day game into a victory and get everyone back on side and get everyone believing again.”

  • Nolan hopes derby will get fans ‘back on side’

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  • Kevin Nolan: “It’s easy to walk away when things get tough. That’s what I don’t do.”

To strike or to shield

A photo of Callum Paterson running during a match while wearing a white and gold MK Dons kitImage source, Shutterstock
Image caption,

MK Dons forward Callum Paterson is the second highest goalscorer (14) in League Two below Swindon Town’s Aaron Drinan (18)

There’s a classic question when it comes to battle – what’s better, attack or defence? We might find out the answer when MK Dons face Cambridge United in League Two.

MK Dons have a scoring prowess like no other in League Two, so much so that only Coventry City (70) and Cardiff City (64) have netted more goals than the Dons’ 62 across the EFL.

Meanwhile, Cambridge run such a tight ship that only two sides fighting for the Premier League title – Arsenal (21) and Manchester City (25) – have conceded less goals than the U’s 26 within the top four flights.

The two sides, both rich in form, will meet at Abbey Stadium in a test to see if attacking power can overcome an almighty defence. However, the result will be more than philosophy.

Should one prevail, they will will keep their spot in the top three – and in the case of Cambridge, could end the day at the top of the fourth tier.

But a loss could see one of their trailing rivals in Notts County and Swindon Town pounce and given just how close the promotion race is getting, staying ahead could be a deciding factor come the end of the season.

Can Sadler do a Cowan to save Walsall’s season?

Mat Sadler watching on during Walsall's game against MK Dons while wearing a black puffer jacketImage source, Shutterstock
Image caption,

Walsall have dropped out of the automatic promotion places to occupy 10th place as it stands

Walsall’s winless run of five league games feels familiar, doesn’t it?

Just like last season when they squandered a huge 15 point cushion at the top of the table to eventually lose in the play-off final, the Saddlers seem unable to sustain an excellent first half to their campaign and are fizzling out in the second.

It’s put boss Mat Sadler under the microscope and now that the board are calling for results, it feels like they won’t be so forgiving this time around.

“Football’s a brutal business at times – you can be the perfect man for the job a month ago and then that changes but it changes back very quickly,” Sadler told BBC Radio WM.

“I’ll be fighting and keep believing that we’ll get back on that front foot and play the way we’ve always played. You have to, otherwise what’s the point?”

Walsall will only have to make a short trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday but they take on the division’s form side.

Salop have won five successive league matches under head coach Gavin Cowan to take them 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

  • ‘Fighting’ Sadler sure Walsall can recover form

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BBC Sport will have live text coverage of all the weekend’s EFL action, starting with Bristol City v Watford with updates from Harrogate Town v Cheltenham Town on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

Related topics

  • Blackburn Rovers
  • League Two
  • Oxford United
  • Cambridge United
  • Millwall
  • Milton Keynes Dons
  • Peterborough United
  • West Bromwich Albion
  • Shrewsbury Town
  • Walsall
  • League One
  • Coventry City
  • Championship
  • Preston North End
  • Northampton Town
  • Football
  • Stoke City
  • Derby County

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