Five things to look out for in EFL as bosses feel the heat

Peterborough's Darren Ferguson and Tom Cleverley of Plymouth already find themselves under pressure this season

No Championship? No problem. This is the EFL so there are stories and subplots around every corner.

There might only be six games gone but the heat is already being turned up on the strugglers and you don't have to tell Peterborough's Darren Ferguson and Tom Cleverley of Plymouth that, following considerable investment, they need to start winning.

Meanwhile, Bradford City, promoted in the final seconds of the final day of last season, have the chance to go top of League One as they meet another newbie enjoying life in the third tier, Doncaster Rovers.

In League Two, first against third makes the derby between Gillingham and Bromley that bit tastier while Walsall and Chesterfield resume battle after last year's play-off semi-final.

Fergie on borrowed time?

Darragh MacAnthony became chairman of Peterborough United in 2006

He is about to oversee his 671st game in charge of Peterborough United so it is fair to say Darren Ferguson knows all there is to know about his club and, maybe more pertinently, its owner Darragh MacAnthony - after all he's been appointed four times by the Irishman and left three times.

Five defeats from the opening six League One games had many expecting Ferguson to be heading for the London Road exit again but the club appear to have doubled down with another busy week in the transfer market.

The arrival of forward Harry Leonard from Blackburn for, in the owner's words, "a lot of money" is the final piece of a squad rebuild but now Ferguson admits he needs to build confidence.

"I've been in this game a long time - I know one result can change things very quickly, and that can bring belief and confidence," he said after Posh started their defence of the EFL Trophy with a 3-1 defeat by 10-man Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

"We have to hope the new players hit the ground running and I have to make sure that happens - and we start to get performances that are good enough to get results."

Saturday brings a trip to Huddersfield Town who have three wins from three at home with six goals scored and none conceded.

A good place to start turning things around for Fergie junior or where the pressure goes up an extra notch?

Tom's not so clever start at Argyle

Lorent Tolaj joined Plymouth from League One rivals Port Vale

While Ferguson is pretty much part of the furniture at Peterborough, Tom Cleverley might still be unpacking his boxes at Plymouth.

Much loved at Watford and harshly treated in the eyes of many, his arrival in Devon was, in the main, warmly welcomed. But one win from six games and the joint-worst defensive record in League One means the honeymoon might be over.

A much-needed 1-0 win over Blackpool a fortnight ago offered some respite for Cleverley, but a 4-0 belting at Cardiff on Saturday had the boss admitting his side "have issues".

Like his Peterborough counterpart, the Plymouth boss has been backed in the transfer window, particularly with the addition of striker Lorent Tolaj from Port Vale for whom they activated a "substantial release clause" to buy.

Argyle must hope his two goals in the midweek EFL Trophy win over Cheltenham is just the start of things to come as they welcome highly fancied Stockport to Home Park this weekend.

Alexander doing great for Bradford

Graham Alexander signed a new three-year contract as Bradford boss in July

Bradford City waited six years for a return to League One and they appear to want to make up for lost time.

With Cardiff and Stevenage not in action this weekend, victory for the Bantams at Doncaster would take them top of the pile - not bad when they only clinched automatic promotion with a goal with virtually the final kick of last season.

When these two sides last met at the Eco-Power Stadium in April, Doncaster won 2-1 to clinch promotion before going on to win the League Two title and Bradford boss Graham Alexander is not surprised to see them up in fifth place.

"All the four clubs who came up last season have got winning mentalities and good habits in the squad to be successful," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

As if things couldn't get any better for boss Alexander at the moment, their 2-1 EFL Trophy victory over Grimsby on Tuesday saw the return of Andy Cook after eight months out injured, with the striker's two goals making him the club's fourth-highest scorer.

As for Doncaster, four wins from their opening six games means victory on Saturday would take them level on points with the current leaders Cardiff.

Gills and Ravens on upward trends

Jude Arthurs scored Bromley's second goal in a 3-0 win at Gillingham last season

For so long Bromley and Gillingham football clubs had been separated by more than just the 33 miles between their stadiums so last season's first meetings on equal footing were historic, as were the surprising outcomes.

Newly promoted Bromley won both games to finish six places and eight points above their more illustrious neighbours and those in Medway felt a bit miffed.

Gareth Ainsworth has guided Gillingham to the top of the early League Two table, but Gills fans have been here before - they were also top on the corresponding weekend last season.

Victory at Hayes Lane could extend the lead for Ainsworth's side while defeat would send their opponents above them and with Bromley unbeaten in the league at home since the end of March who would bet against the Ravens?

Familiar territory for Saddlers and Spireites

Walsall beat Chesterfield in last season's play-off semi-finals

These two are back at it having met in last season's League Two play-off semi-finals and they find themselves already in the top seven this term.

How they ended up in the play-offs last year was very different with Walsall blowing a 12-point lead at the top and the Spireites squeezing in on the final day.

Roles might be reversed this time with Chesterfield having the chance to go top with a win while Walsall have served-up their supporters either feast or famine - four wins and two defeats - although victory at big-spending MK Dons last weekend might be a bit of a marker.

It was the Saddlers who came out on top in the play-offs before losing the final to AFC Wimbledon and boss Mat Sadler feels their opponents on Saturday are one of the promotion favourites.

"They're a high-budget club in the division - they've started the season exactly how I would expect with their squad," Sadler told BBC Radio WM.

These two will have eyes on automatic promotion but could they be seeing each other again in the end-of-season bun fight?

You can follow all the League One and League Two action with BBC Sport's live text coverage, starting on Saturday lunchtime with Newport County against Bristol Rovers (12:30 BST)