The opening weekend of the Championship delivered on drama and the midweek Carabao Cup action just added more spice to the mixture.
We witnessed beautiful goals (thank you, Gustavo Hamer!), massive upsets (hey, Doncaster Rovers!) and jaw-dropping comebacks (Saints fans rejoice!).
This week, clubs like Sheffield United and Blackpool will be trying to improve on slow starts, while Sheffield Wednesday fans will be looking for answers from the club’s owner about their dire financial condition.
Here are five things to keep an eye on in the English Football League this weekend.
Hillsborough set for more protests
Sheffield Wednesday have been one of the most talked-about clubs this season, and their passionate fans have had a difficult time listening.
But the Owls have certainly been involved in some intriguing games.
They lead Leicester City in their first Championship game before the Foxes scored in the 87th minute, and their Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers produced six goals and Wednesday’s first win of the season in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
They are displaying a lot of spirit in the face of adversity, and the Hillsborough faithful will hope to match that for the season’s first home game.
Their protests at the King Power Stadium went off as planned, and more are expected on Saturday when Wednesday visit Stoke City (15:00 BST) as fans call for the termination of owner Dejphon Chansiri’s tenure.
Ipswich and Southampton in second-tier reunion
On Sunday, two sides who were all too familiar with each other in the Premier League last season face off in the second tier after different starts.
Ipswich Town welcome Southampton at 12:00 BST, looking to revenge their 2-1 defeat at Portman Road in the top league in February.
However, the Tractor Boys are yet to win a game, drawing 1-1 with Birmingham City on the first day of the season and losing on penalties to Bromley in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
“Because we lost a game on penalties, we can’t believe we were poor; we weren’t. Yes, we should come here and win, but it doesn’t make it easier,” Ipswich forward Conor Chaplin told BBC Radio Suffolk.
Southampton have made a successful start under new manager Will Still, scoring two injury-time goals at St Mary’s to defeat Wrexham 2-1 in their first game and then defeating Northampton Town to move to the Carabao Cup second round.
Slow starters Blackpool face in-form Terriers
Few teams have had as successful a start to the season as Huddersfield Town.
They lead League One after scoring five goals and conceding none in their first two wins over Leyton Orient and Reading, and they also defeated Championship side Leicester City on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Not the easiest opponent for Blackpool to try to get out of their rut against on Saturday (15:00 BST).
The Tangerines were expected to perform well this season, but Steve Bruce’s team has conceded seven goals in their first two League One losses and failed to defeat Port Vale in their cup match on Tuesday.
“When you are looking at the sort of changes we’ve made, I do believe we will be far better in time but there’s no doubting that we’ve had a difficult start,” Bruce told the BBC’s Lancashire affiliate.
“I am not seeking for excuses. We have to be better, and I believe we will be, but we must turn things around. We now have a big game at the weekend.”
Can Foxes and Boro bounce back from Cup exits and Selles get a win?
While some fans have been satisfied with their team’s start, others have been left disappointed.
Leicester struggled past a wounded Wednesday in their Championship opener, but after being crushed by the Terriers in the Carabao Cup, they will look to stabilise when they go to Preston North End on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Middlesbrough, who were thrashed 4-0 at home by League One Doncaster Rovers after an uneasy 1-0 Championship victory over Swansea City in their season opener, are another club looking to move on from cup disappointment.
Boro face a tough battle against Millwall, who have won their first two games, on Saturday (15:00 BST), while Sheffield United look for their first win of the season against the Swans.
Ruben Selles’ first game as Blades manager has not gone as planned, with a 4-1 home defeat to Bristol City and a 2-1 Carabao Cup loss to Birmingham City, despite Gus Hamer’s amazing strike from the centre circle.
Barren Barrow chasing first goal
There are eleven teams in the EFL without a league goal, although given Cheltenham’s 12-game drought a few years ago, fans may not be too concerned just yet.
Nine of those ten, including Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City, Oxford United, Swansea City, Watford, Reading, Shrewsbury Town, Cheltenham Town, and Barnet, scored in midweek Carabao Cup play.
The exception was Barrow.
They have lost all three games so far and are the only EFL team currently chasing a goal, which they want to reverse when they play Notts County on Saturday (15:00 BST).
However, manager Andy Whing is upbeat following their hard-fought 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Championship side Preston North End.
“I can’t keep saying everything will be fine; we need to start seeing results,” Whing told BBC Radio Cumbria.
“We still need to improve in front of the goal and eliminate mistakes, but we are making progress in terms of performance. We’re becoming better and better.
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