Derby delights are abound in the English Football League this weekend. Whether it be local rivalries, competitive cities, or simply a team named Derby coming to town, for many the biggest thing on offer will not just be about the league table. Here are five things to look out across the weekend in the EFL.
A match between a relegated club and a team who missed out on a play-off spot on the final day of the season sounds like a treat - but for fans of Burnley and Derby County, it is a recipe for a potential nightmare. Neither team has made a good start, to put it mildly. The Clarets are bottom and still looking for their first win; Derby have amassed just four points in seven games and are on a three-match losing streak.
It is too early to say both are relegation candidates but the signs are worrying and Saturday's meeting at Turf Moor ( ) feels like it will carry more weight than it should. What is worse for the Rams is Sweden international goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has been ruled out of the match with a knee problem. "The defensive aspect for Derby at the moment is under scrutiny, we are conceding goals, and to lose your first-choice goalkeeper is a big blow," former Rams academy coach Darren Robinson told BBC Radio Derby.
Rams keeper Zetterstrom out with knee injury Walker 'desperate' to end Burnley's winless woe The bitterness of losing a derby can linger far beyond the season. West Ham went a man down in the ninth minute the last time they met Millwall in 2012, but they still managed to claw out a 2-1 victory. It would have left a scar on the Lions, who have seen their storming start to the Championship falter in the past few games, while their London rivals have leapt to the top following an unsteady start on their return to the Championship.
They meet at The Den on Saturday ( ) with the Hammers chasing a fifth straight victory and aiming to fully establish their position as league leaders. Meanwhile, Molineux hosts its first Black Country derby since 2021 on Sunday ( ). Wolves lost 3-2 in this fixture when West Bromwich Albion visited most recently but, like Millwall, it is 2012 that truly haunts them.
Baggies boss James Morrison played his hand in a 5-1 victory for Albion on the pitch that day and 14 years later he will be hoping to inflict further suffering from the dugout. Rivalries renewed: The derby games back this season Quiz: Can you remember West Ham & Millwall's last derby? Quiz: How well do you know the Black Country derby?
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