Managers under pressure already - preview of the EFL weekend

What the report says

BBC Sport Football’s weekend EFL preview says several clubs are already under pressure only three weeks into the new season, with early results prompting questions at multiple levels of the pyramid. The article highlights Stoke City, Norwich City, West Ham United, Plymouth Argyle, Salford City and Gillingham as teams whose starts have left supporters uneasy.

In the Championship, Stoke host Wolves after back-to-back defeats, with Mark Robins still trying to turn around a long-running struggle to return the club to the Premier League. Norwich also face an important test at home to Burnley after opening with two league losses, despite a summer that had raised hopes of a promotion push under Philippe Clement. Burnley, meanwhile, are adjusting to life back in the division under new boss Nicky Hayen.

West Ham’s situation is framed as especially tense, with off-field uncertainty and results adding to scrutiny around Nuno Espirito Santo’s side ahead of a trip to Watford. In League One, Plymouth Argyle are looking to build on a more positive finish last season but need a better start when they meet unbeaten Bradford City. In League Two, BBC Sport notes that Salford and Gillingham have both invested heavily but have yet to convince, with each seeking an early-season lift to settle nerves.