EFL WATCH: OUR TOP 3 GAMES THIS WEEK

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Last week our top EFL picks didn't disappoint, providing us with eight goals and two red cards. So what games do we recommend this week?

League One:

Crewe Alexandra vs Wigan Athletic - 10th October (KO – 3pm)

Despite the awful circumstances surrounding Wigan Athletic off the pitch, their on the pitch start has not been too bad. Considering a lot of the Wigan players are on short term deals or loans, they have rallied around new manager John Sheridan and delivered two impressive wins against Portsmouth and Doncaster. 

Crewe have had a tough start to life in League One, losing their first two games without scoring, but have bounced back with a win against MK Dons. Crewe have been a great example of what using your academy can get you, as nine players from Crewe’s academy started in the 2-0 win against MK Dons. 

The easy on the eye football Crewe like to play will no doubt make this an interesting test for John Sheridan’s streetwise Latics. Three wins in a row for Wigan could change the entire perception of how this season could go for them, whereas a win for Crewe will help them on their road to survival.

League Two:

Cambridge United vs Newport County - 10th October (KO – 3pm)

Newport County have emerged as the surprise early leaders of League Two, with Michael Flynn’s side having won three in a row after an opening day draw. Keep in the mind the ‘cupsets’ of Swansea and Watford before taking Newcastle to penalties and you have a very interesting side. With Tristan Abrahams seeming to have found his feet in League Two and the experience of Joss Labadie and Josh Sheehan, the sky's the limit for this Newport County team. 

Cambridge are another surprise contender for automatic promotion, after winning three in a row without conceding. They hit their first stumbling block last Saturday, losing 2-0 away at Exeter, but it is now up to The U’s to bounce back and show they have what it takes to mount a title challenge. With the incredible technical ability of Wes Hoolahan, Cambridge will be sure to create chances. 

In what could be believed to be an early automatic promotion six-pointer, Newport will head to the Abbey Stadium full of confidence and looking to maintain their top spot. Cambridge will be gunning to regain that spot, which makes this game a must-see encounter.

WILDCARD

League Two:

Cheltenham Town vs Crawley Town - 10th October (KO – 3pm)

Cheltenham have bounced back well from their playoff semi-final collapse vs Northampton with two wins out of three. Michael Duff’s side stumbled out of the blocks with a 2-1 defeat against Morecambe, but have since bounced back with two straight wins against Tranmere and Leyton Orient. They have replaced the instrumental Ryan Broom with Liam Sercombe, who has done a good job in that mould.

Crawley Town have also had a good start to this season, with their only loss coming against fellow promotion contenders Port Vale. Wins against Scunthorpe and Oldham tell us that Crawley won’t be hanging around the bottom of the division but instead, look to the playoffs after a few years dwelling in the lower half of the table. With Tom Nichols finding the form that originally earned him a move to Peterborough, John Yems may have built a team capable of finishing in the playoffs. 

With both teams playing a progressive style of football, this match will be a really intriguing battle between an established promotion contender going up against a Crawley side that is emerging as one to watch this season.