Five things to watch for in EFL: Coaching struggles & Imps excitement

Watford and Southampton, under Will Still, have endured difficult weeks

Autumn is here, the leaves are falling, the dark nights are closing in, and there's a distinct chill in the air, but fortunately the EFL is on hand to keep us warm and toasty.

Middlesbrough continue to light the way at the top of the Championship and they head to a Southampton side whose start has been less than saintly, while Chris Wilder seeks a first Sheffield United victory on a former stomping ground, and Watford ponder Paulo Pezzolano's predicament.

In League One, Lincoln City are making noises, while Oldham Athletic and Barnet are making themselves comfortable back in League Two.

Here are five things you may want to keep an eye on in this jam-packed weekend of EFL excitement.

Watford wavering on Paulo?

Paulo Pezzolano has overseen one victory from seven games as Watford boss

Anyone taking the head coach role at Watford these days tends to have their name on a Post-it note on the office door rather than one of those nice plaques.

When appointed in May, Paulo Pezzolano became the 14th permanent Hornets boss in the past seven years. Unfortunately, his team are not helping his long-term employment prospects.

On average, the Uruguayan's 13 predecessors have lasted eight months in the post, and one win from seven games in all competitions has got a few people expecting to see the words 'Club statement' above the seemingly obligatory photo of a corner flag each time they have checked the club website this week.

"He's spoken a lot about the early weeks, months - it may take a while for the players to adjust but he will eventually get there. The problem with that one is this is Watford and they don't tend to be too forgiving," said BBC Three Counties Radio commentator Geoff Doyle.

This may not then be a good time to face Hull City (Saturday, 15:00 BST), a club themselves not afraid to change managers, but who have found some form.

A 3-1 win over Southampton and a useful 2-2 draw at Swansea City has given boss Sergej Jakirovic some time to breathe - time which Pezzolano may be running out of.

Saints still waiting for lift off under Will

Will Still managed Reims and Lens in Ligue 1

With last season's horror show in the Premier League consigned to history, Southampton fans may have felt it was safe to come out from behind the sofa, but there could still be a sequel in the offing.

Things have not quite gone to plan since the appointment of Will Still with just the opening day win over Wrexham to show for their efforts in the Championship.

There was a creditable performance in a 2-1 midweek Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool but even that only highlighted their current deficiencies to the head coach.

"We're consistently inconsistent, which is annoying. We're conceding too many goals, too cheaply, so we need to urgently sort that out," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"It's not fun, it's not very enjoyable, but we need to keep believing in it, hammering away, keep plugging away, because that's the only way it's going to work."

The bad news for Southampton is their next challenge brings the league leaders Middlesbrough to St Mary's Stadium.

Boro are only the fourth side in the past 40 years to top the second-tier table by as many as four points after six games (Huddersfield Town, Brighton and Hove Albion and Oldham are the others, in case you were wondering) and are unbeaten.

For those who like quirks of fate, Saturday's meeting will also mark the 22nd anniversary of Middlesbrough's last win at Southampton - a reason for hope for the Saints?

Wilder seeks more than a warm welcome

Chris Wilder spent more than five years in charge of Oxford United

He might be a living legend at Sheffield United but leading Oxford United back to the EFL makes Chris Wilder quite a popular figure at the Kassam Stadium.

Winning the National League play-offs in 2010 ended four seasons in the wilderness for the U's, but this will be only Wilder's fifth trip back since leaving in 2014.

There may be a few handshakes and sharing of stories but the recently reinstalled Blades boss has more pressing matters at hand - namely trying to earn a first win of the season, although even a point would be a start.

"We've got a bit of work to do - maybe I was too much on the optimistic side of we'll be OK," Wilder said after overseeing a 1-0 defeat by Charlton Athletic on his return last Saturday.

Of the past 10 sides to start a season losing six or more league games, seven have been relegated - there is indeed, work for Wilder to do.

Despite all their troubles, Sheffield United are only five points behind their opponents, with Oxford's first win of the season at high-flying Bristol City last Sunday as much needed as it was surprising and made it three unbeaten for Gary Rowett's side.

"We'll be up against a team incredibly motivated to kick off their season again and we've got to back up the performance at Bristol City," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

Imps causing trouble for League One's hierarchy

Ben House scored twice for Lincoln in a 3-1 win over Luton last Saturday

When you write the words 'with all due respect' it normally means you are about to insult someone. However, with all due respect to Lincoln City, there are more glamorous and better resourced clubs in League One, but football is about much more than that.

The Imps have been upsetting the apple cart this season with eye-catching wins in particular over Reading, Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town, the last of which took them top of the table for a few hours.

Boss Michael Skubala brings up 100 games in charge against Peterborough United on Saturday (15:00 BST), with the former Leeds United coach confident in what he is putting together at Sincil Bank.

"We've got players in the depth where tactically we can put a plan together to negate their (opponent's) strengths," said Skubala.

"No one wins the league at the start of the season. We have to be in and around it - let the fans enjoy it. They should enjoy everything we're trying to do as a club."

It is a short trip to London Road for Lincoln but they will face a Posh side with back-to-back wins and starting to motor after signing 16 new players since the end of last season.

Latics and Bees getting comfortable for first EFL meeting

Oldham beat Southend United in last season's National League promotion final

After celebrating long-awaited returns to the EFL at the end of last season, Oldham and Barnet were quickly confronted with how much tougher life was about to get.

The Latics went six games without a win to start their first league campaign after three seasons away, while the Bees lost their opening three following a fourth promotion from the non-league ranks.

Now a first meeting in the EFL brings together two of the division's form sides with Oldham on a three-match winning streak and Barnet having won their past two.

Wins over Crewe Alexandra and Grimsby Town have got the Londoners level on 13 points with Saturday's opponents, and within striking distance of the play-offs.

It may have taken a while to get that new house smell out of the building but these two now feel part of the EFL furniture.

You can follow the entire weekend as it happens here on the BBC Sport website and app, starting with live text coverage of West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City on Friday 26 September.

We will have live text commentary of the Championship, League One and League Two campaigns all season right here on BBC Sport.