First glimpse of goal at the Cardiff City Stadium goes to the visitors inside 20 seconds as the recalled Kelvin Abrefa has a pop from distance which flies wide of Nathan Trott's goal.

The lunchtime starter was packed with blood and thunder but had very little in the way of goals, let's see what the main course has for us on Saturday afternoon.

We're under way across the EFL... except at Stockport, where travel disruption has led to a 15:15 BST kick-off against Exeter, just to mark your cards.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has seen for himself the kind of threat Reading will pose to his team today.

With Cardiff sitting out last weekend's action due to international call-ups, the Irishman went to Exeter City to watch their 1-1 draw with the Royals.

Reading have been beset by problems on and off the field in recent years, but Noel Hunt's side have improved in recent weeks having gone four matches unbeaten, albeit with three draws in their past three games.

"They're a very big club in this division and I went to watch the game against Exeter in person to get a feel of the qualities they have," said Barry-Murphy.

"When we're so busy watching games on video sometimes you can watch a lot of different things but you don't quite get a feel of the quality of the players or what the intricacies of their play are.

"So I went to that game against Exeter and you saw that the squad is chock-full of highly talented players who've played at a much higher level.

"Where they are in the league is obviously not where they would want to be currently but it just gave me a great insight into the talent they possess and what we'd have to do to overcome it."

Naz Premji
BBC Final Score commentator at Valley Parade

Image source, Getty Images

Bradford City have been on the up ever since Graham Alexander took over the reigns. He has overseen a huge upturn in fortunes and managed to get the team promoted out of League Two and into League One, and now they are taking to the third tier like a duck to water.

This afternoon's visitors from South Yorkshire like their hosts have seen the good times and bad times. Barnsley graced the Premier League in the 90's when Danny Wilson got that team full of great names like Neil Redfearn and Clint Marcelle promoted.

Connor Hourihane was handed the job of revitalising the Reds and he has done that to a certain extent - they play a good brand of football and again they are in the mix for a tilt at the play-offs and promotion.

It might only be October but these games are massive in the context of where these two sides hope to be come the end of May.

Image source, Rex Features

Way more than Yorkshire pride at stake this afternoon as Barnsley head to Bradford.

The Bantams are sitting pretty in second spot after promotion from League Two, but the only points they have dropped since August have come against local rivals, with their only defeat of the campaign so far coming at Doncaster on 6 September. They were also held to a 2-2 draw by Rotherham in their most recent match on 2 October.

Graham Alexander's City have the best home form in the top four tiers of English football and are seeking a seventh straight home league win, and 19th in 21 games, but Barnsley, sat seven places and seven points behind them, have won their only derby of the season so far against Huddersfield.

They also have a good recent record against Bradford, claiming 10 points and four clean sheets in their four encounters over the past 10 years and winning on their past two visits to Valley Parade.

Mark this in the 'do not want to miss it' category.

Image source, Rex Features

League leaders Walsall, who are unbeaten in their past eight league games, welcome a Barrow side who in turn are unbeaten in their past four. The Saddlers have won five out of their six home games this season but will know that three points will be vital today with second-placed Swindon just two points behind them. The Robins travel to Accrington who have lost their past five matches in all competitions.

MK Dons will be looking to make it four wins on the spin after their 4-0 demolition of Bristol Rovers last weekend. Paul Warne’s side welcome Crewe who beat Liverpool Under-21 in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday, with on-loan Stoke City striker Emre Tezgel staking a claim for a regular starting place after scoring his fifth goal for the club in that game.

Seventh-placed Chesterfield make the trip to Fleetwood with the Spireites hoping to build on last week’s win over Salford and keep in touch with the top three.

Barnet, who sit in ninth and a point and a point behind Chesterfield, stretched their unbeaten League Two run to five matches with a 2-0 victory over Tranmere last time out. The Bees welcome Notts County to The Hive.

At the foot of the table we have a couple of basement battles taking place. Two sides who were relegated from League One last season - Crawley and Shrewsbury – face off at Croud Meadow with both sides just a point off the drop zone.

And second from bottom Newport welcome bottom club Cheltenham with both sides level on points. Cheltenham have not won away yet this season - but, under the returning Steve Cotterill, they have managed a win and a draw from his two games in charge.

It's fair to say we could see a lot of change at the top and bottom on the league come full-time and that’s something we’ve said on many occasions in this tightly contested league. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Image source, Getty Images

The Jack Wilshere era at Kenilworth Road begins with the visit of Mansfield this afternoon.

The 33-year-old former England and Arsenal midfielder says he is 'loving every minute' of his new career, but will he be saying the same come 17:00 BST?

The Hatters are one point and one place ahead of 12th placed Mansfield, but just four points from their past five games, and a derby defeat at Stevenage, resulted in the end of Matt Bloomfield’s nine-month reign.

However, Luton are unbeaten in their past six league games against Nigel Clough's Stags, taking 12 points from that run, while the visitors have won on just two of their dozen previous visits to Bedfordshire, and only once since 1964.

The form guide suggests a good start for the new boss, with Luton winning five of their past seven at home, while Mansfield have won only two of their past 17 on the road, taking 12 points in total, but since when did football ever work like that?

Image source, Getty Images

Plymouth remain amongst the flotsam in 18th in League One, but manager Tom Cleverley will have been sleeping better recently ahead of the visit of high-flying AFC Wimbledon.

After starting the season with four losses on the spin, the Pilgrims has posted five wins from seven games in all competitions and 10 points from 15 in the league.

Cleverley's side looked good in a 4-0 victory away at Burton Albion, opponents who have since collected seven points from three matches.

And while a draw with Wigan checked their momentum, they are looking up not down.

Some way above sit AFC Wimbledon, who come into the match with four wins and a draw in their past five. It would have been five wins but for an 86th-minute equaliser for Port Vale last time out.

Manager Johnnie Jackson should not be too concerned. A top two spot is in reach with his side three points off leaders Stevenage albeit having played two matches more.

Image source, Rex Features

What fresh madness awaits us in Cardiff this afternoon?

After winning their opening three home games in style, the promotion-chasing Bluebirds lost their next two in front of their own fans before bounding back with an incredible come-from-behind 4-3 win over Leyton Orient last time out on 4 October.

Their 14 home goals scored in five games is the most in the division, but only struggling Blackpool and Burton have shipped more than their eight at the other end.

Brian Barry-Murphy's men remain in third, and after 11 games are 12 points clear of Reading, who slipped into the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw at Exeter last Saturday - their third straight draw with that score, which did, however, extend their unbeaten run to four games.

The Royals have a good record in Cardiff, taking 11 points from their past six visits, though their sole defeat came on their last visit in February 2023 by the only goal.

How Noel Hunt would love to get back to winning ways and kick-start their season here, while former Wrexham striker Jack Marriott (pictured) is back in Wales looking to score for the seventh straight game in all competitions.

Image source, Getty Images

Big game at the top end of League Two this one. Grimsby will be setting their sights on getting into the top three while Gillingham will eant to keep the pressure on at the summit.

Grimsby’s good form came to an end last weekend after they suffered a 2-1 home defeat against Colchester.

They’ll need to improve their home league form starting from today if they are to get back to winning ways. They have won just one of their past four games at Blundell Park this season.

It took a 95th-minute Elliott Nevitt equaliser against Cheltenham last time out to halt what could have been three league defeats on the bounce for Gillingham.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side are well-travelled though having suffered defeat just once in six away games in the league.

Accrington v Swindon

Barnet v Notts County

Bristol Rovers v Tranmere

Chesterfield v Fleetwood

Colchester v Harrogate

Grimsby v Gillingham

MK Dons v Crewe

Newport v Cheltenham

Shrewsbury v Crawley

Walsall v Barrow

Blackpool v Wycombe

Bradford v Barnsley

Cardiff v Reading

Doncaster v Northampton

Luton v Mansfield

Plymouth v AFC Wimbledon

Rotherham v Leyton Orient

Stockport v Exeter

Wigan v Port Vale

Cambridge hold on for three points in a game which had 15 minutes of added time after the referee went off injured in the second half.

First-half goals from Shayne Lavery and Kylian Kouassi put the U's in ascendancy. Michael Cheek pulled one back for the visitors but they left themselves with a bit too much to do in the end.

Daniel Udoh's goal in the first half is enough for Salford to seal a big win over their Greater Manchester neighbors as Will Sutton was sent off for Oldham.

This victory brings an end to the Ammies' three-match losing streak and move up to fourth for now, while it's now four games without a win for Oldham who lose their second on the road this season.

Gavin Gordon
Former Lincoln striker on BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Usually missed chances come back to haunt you, not today.

Lincoln have stuck together, battled, scrapped and made sure they stay in the game, and once they did get another opportunity they took it.

The team saw the win out. It shows that they are a good side, what more can you ask for?

A good chance for Salford to wrap it up as they go on the break, Fabio Borini shows good feet to play it to Daniel Udoh who shoots straight at Mathew Hudson.

And just after, Borini gets on the end of Udoh cross but heads over.

Archie Collins' rocket on 65 minutes has proved enough to separate these two and the 10 men of Peterborough hang on to land only their third win of the season.

Victory sees Posh climb off the bottom ahead of the 3pm kick offs and the importance to their manager Darren Ferguson cannot be stressed enough.

In an instant, it is a third win five rather than a third loss on the bounce that is the formline and pressure has eased on a manager who admitted he could be sacked if results don't improve.

Burton will wonder how they failed to take advantage of an extra man after Tom Lees was sent off with nine minutes to go.

But more importantly they will wonder how they did not take advantage of a first period they dominated.

It is a first defeat in four for Gary Bowyer's men who stay 20th ahead of the afternoon kick offs.

Peter Kioso and Archie Collins combine to bring down Charlie Webster on the edge of the box left side.

But the Burton midfielder cannot keep his effort down. It looks like Posh are taking the points here.

We're into eight minutes of added time at the Peninsula Stadium.

Can Salford hold on or will Oldham find an equaliser?

The board has gone up and we're into 15 minutes added time after referee Declan Bourne went off injured.

It's become a little scrappy in these latter stages.