It felt like forever... but the transfer window has finally closed and we can fully focus on matters on the pitch. Well, for another four months at least until the January window opens on New Year's Day. There are already some fascinating stories unfolding across the English Football League (EFL), even at this early stage of the 2026-27 season.
We have picked out five things to look out for in this weekend's fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two. Be honest… who had Swansea, QPR and Charlton down to be unbeaten and the top three in the Championship table after four games? The Addicks are enjoying their best start to a second-tier season for 34 years - and their best in any division since 2011-12 when they went on to win League One.
Nathan Jones' side's perfect opening was halted by a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last time out and their next test is a trip to Stoke City, who picked up their first win in midweek. Meanwhile, the Hoops have made their strongest start to a campaign since 2013-14 when they also had 10 points at this stage. They won eight of their opening 10 games on that occasion and went on to finish fourth before going up via the play-offs - that was also the last time they won promotion to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough are the visitors to Loftus Road on Saturday in what, on paper, will be QPR's toughest game so far. Whether Charlton and QPR can keep up their fine work remains to be seen. Swansea host Wrexham on Saturday ( ) and while it may not be a derby in the traditional sense, with more than 100 miles separating the two Welsh cities, there is a rivalry growing since the Red Dragons were promoted to the Championship in 2025.
Wrexham go into the game off the back of a 3-0 win at Millwall on Wednesday, while Swansea beat Watford, 24 hours earlier. Elsewhere, we very much have two genuine local derbies to look forward to with Preston North End taking on Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime (12:30) before Birmingham City and Wolves round off the weekend in the West Midlands on Sunday (12:00). Blackburn claimed the Lancashire bragging rights last season, winning both encounters, and are unbeaten in their past five games against the Lilywhites (W3 D2).
Paul Heckingbottom's side have endured a miserable start to the new campaign with four straight defeats and remain the only team yet to pick up a point, while Rovers have five points from four matches. When Wolves travel to St Andrew's to face Birmingham, it will be the first meeting between the two sides for eight years. Wolves did the double over Blues in 2017-18, winning the away fixture 1-0 and securing a 2-0 victory at Molineux on the way to promotion - something they will hope to repeat again this season.
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