Five EFL Fixtures to Watch: Unexpected Promotion Pushes & Peterborough’s Manager Hunt | OneFootball

The international break has brought the Championship to a temporary standstill this weekend, but there is still plenty of EFL action to keep an eye on across League One and Two.

With no second-tier fixtures taking place, attention turns to the divisions below, where the early-season promotion picture is already beginning to take shape.

Cambridge United and Plymouth Argyle are among the sides exceeding expectations, while Stockport County are looking to build momentum towards the top end of League One.

Elsewhere, Peterborough United face their first league game since parting company with Luke Williams, while several League Two sides are already positioning themselves for promotion challenges.

Here are five EFL fixtures to watch this weekend.

Cambridge United vs AFC Wimbledon

Cambridge United’s return to League One was expected to be about survival. Instead, Neil Harris’ side have quickly found themselves in the promotion conversation.

The U’s have collected 12 points from seven matches and sit fifth, just three points behind leaders Bradford City.

Their only league defeat came against fourth-placed Huddersfield Town, while last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Oxford United provided another indication that Cambridge can compete with the division’s stronger sides.

Their attacking record has been encouraging, with 12 league goals, but the lack of a clean sheet remains an obvious concern. Cambridge have not kept one this season.

That could make Saturday’s meeting with AFC Wimbledon particularly intriguing.

Johnnie Jackson’s side have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches and conceded just once during that run.

Three consecutive clean sheets against Bromley, Doncaster Rovers and MK Dons have helped Wimbledon climb to seventh, just one point behind Cambridge.

The contrast is clear: Cambridge have scored more than twice as many league goals as Wimbledon, but the visitors have developed one of the division’s more reliable defences.

Wimbledon’s problem is at the other end. They have scored just five League One goals, with only Peterborough having found the net fewer times.

Both sides also have selection problems. Cambridge will be without Sam Curtis and Sullay Kaikai due to international duty, while Callum Perry is expected to miss out through injury.

With two clubs who were not widely expected to be challenging near the top now separated by only one point, this could be an early test of whether their impressive starts can be sustained.

Stockport County vs Peterborough United

Few fixtures this weekend offer a bigger contrast than Stockport County against Peterborough United.

Stockport sit ninth with 10 points and have scored 16 league goals. Peterborough are 23rd with five points and have found the net just four times.

The Hatters have endured a mixed September, but their 4-0 victory at Wigan Athletic and goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday demonstrate their potential.

Their performance at Hillsborough was particularly encouraging. Stockport registered 18 shots compared with Wednesday’s six, despite leaving with only a point.

Jim McNulty’s side will therefore see Saturday as an opportunity to climb the table, with victory potentially taking them as high as third.

Peterborough arrive with much greater uncertainty.

The 2-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers brought an end to Luke Williams’ reign after Peterborough won just once in their opening seven league matches. Ryan Harley has taken temporary charge and began his spell with a 3-1 EFL Trophy victory over Colchester United.

That result provides some encouragement, but Stockport represents a considerably different test.

Peterborough’s new manager search now begins in earnest, while Harley will attempt to stabilise a side that has already slipped into the relegation places.

The Posh did beat Stockport 3-0 in November last season, although the Hatters responded with a 3-1 victory in the corresponding fixture at Edgeley Park in April.

This is therefore about more than three points for the visitors. Peterborough need signs that their season can be turned around.

Plymouth Argyle vs Burton Albion

Plymouth Argyle head into Saturday’s meeting with Burton Albion in arguably the strongest form.

Tom Cleverley’s side are third in League One with 13 points and have won four consecutive competitive matches, scoring 14 goals in the league.

Their latest success came in the EFL Trophy, where they defeated Crystal Palace Under-21s 5-1. That followed three consecutive League One victories, including impressive wins over Barnsley and Blackpool.

After narrowly missing out on the top six last season, Plymouth have made their automatic promotion ambitions clear.

Burton provide a very different challenge.

Gary Bowyer’s side are 12th with nine points and have gone three League One matches without a win. They surrendered a two-goal lead against Mansfield last weekend before drawing 2-2 at the Pirelli Stadium.

Yet Burton have already shown they can upset expectations. Their 2-1 victory at Leicester City and 4-1 demolition of AFC Wimbledon demonstrate that they possess the ability to trouble stronger sides.

Consistency away from home remains an issue, however, with defeats at Notts County and Oxford United.

Burton will also be without Toby Sibbick, who has played every minute of their League One campaign but is away on international duty with Uganda.

Plymouth have concerns of their own, with Owen Oseni suffering an ankle injury during Tuesday’s win. Caleb Watts scored twice in that game but could return to the bench, leaving Aribim Pepple and Will Evans as the available central strikers.

The head-to-head record has been dominated by the Pilgrims, with Burton failing to win any of their last nine meetings.

The home side will expect another three points, but Burton have already shown this season that writing them off can be dangerous.

Cheltenham Town vs Chesterfield

League Two provides another closely matched contest as Cheltenham Town welcome Chesterfield.

Cheltenham sit fifth with 12 points, while Chesterfield are eighth with 11. The hosts have scored 14 league goals compared with Chesterfield’s 10, highlighting two sides who have already established themselves around the promotion picture.

Cheltenham have won at Crawley and drawn with both Grimsby and Colchester in their last three league matches.

Chesterfield, meanwhile, have won their last two league games against York City and Oldham Athletic, while their EFL Trophy campaign has also produced an impressive 5-3 victory over Manchester City Under-21s.

Recent meetings give Chesterfield the psychological edge, with the Spireites winning the last two league encounters, including a 2-0 victory at Cheltenham in August 2025.

However, only one point separates the teams this time around.

Neither side will view this as a defining fixture this early in the season, but another victory could provide valuable momentum and strengthen their position among the early promotion contenders.

York City vs Gillingham

The final fixture sees York City host Gillingham, with another one-point gap separating the sides.

Gillingham are fourth on 12 points, while York are seventh with 11. York have scored 13 league goals and Gillingham 11.

The Minstermen have shown plenty of attacking potential, including a 4-0 victory over Swindon Town, but their 2-0 defeat to Chesterfield last weekend was followed by a 1-1 EFL Trophy draw with Rotherham.

The home side have been more consistent in the league, winning three of their opening seven matches. They have beaten Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale while also drawing with Chesterfield.

However, they arrive after a disappointing 4-1 EFL Trophy defeat at Cambridge United.

For York, this represents another opportunity to demonstrate their credentials following promotion from the National League last season.

The Gills have a chance to strengthen their position among the early promotion contenders and respond to their midweek setback.

With just one point between the sides, the fixture could have an important impact on the early League Two standings.

The Championship may be taking a weekend off, but the rest of the EFL certainly is not.

From Cambridge’s unexpected promotion push and Plymouth’s automatic-promotion ambitions to Peterborough’s managerial uncertainty, there are plenty of compelling storylines across League One.

League Two is equally competitive, with Cheltenham, Chesterfield, York and Gillingham all separated by just a few points.

The season is still in its early stages, but this weekend provides another opportunity for clubs to show whether their promising starts can develop into something more substantial.