Carlisle United, albeit in a very small sample size, have made an unconvincing start to life in League One. The Cumbrians were without talismanic box-to-box midfielder Owen Moxon in their 1-0 defeat at Oxford United on Saturday, and they are yet to score from open play in three games in all competitions. Frustration is building with supporters disappointed with the club’s business in the transfer window while manager Paul Simpson is desperate for three points to restore some belief and optimism.

There is immense positivity around Wigan Athletic at the moment, they have wiped off six of the eight-point deduction they have begun the season with already, with fan favourite Callum McMananan scoring a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Northampton Town on Saturday, in his third spell at the club. Many will remember him providing the assist for Ben Watson’s header that won the Latics the FA Cup in 2012/13.

Shaun Maloney has harnessed the underdog status of Wigan’s disadvantageous off-season, and they are in a strong position to deny a Carlisle side who are yet to bloody the nose of any opposition from open play.

Charlton Athletic appear to be one of the earliest sides in the EFL to encounter an injury crisis. The Addicks are fancied to compete in and around the top six places this season, but are missing key individuals in preparing to host Bristol Rovers. There are fitness concerns around Mandela Egbo, Richard Chin, Deji Elerewe, Scott Fraser, Tyreece Campbell, Chuks Aneke, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Miles Leaburn, while Terry Taylor and Tayo Edun are lacking fitness. With Fraser and Leaburn in particular, of the requisite quality to get into the starting XIs of the vast majority of sides at the level.

The Gas did the double over Charlton last season and have registered two impressive 1-1 draws against Portsmouth and Barnsley so far. Charlton have been error-prone at the back, desperately lacking a naturally left-sided centre back, and Rovers have the attacking quality to capitalise if given the chance.

Antony Evans, Aaron Collins, John Marquis and Luke Thomas were the selected attacking quartet against the Tykes, with former Charlton loanee Scott Sinclair scoring the equaliser from the bench. Joey Barton possesses quality in depth to rotate, with Ryan Loft and Luke McCormick enticing options to come into the team.

AFC Wimbledon have so far scored one goal, a late penalty against Wrexham denying the league favourites a first EFL victory. However, they have created more than enough opportunities to have added to that tally to date.

In their opening two fixtures, Wimbledon have created 2.09 away at Grimsby Town before 1.94 xG against Wrexham – even excluding the penalty they created enough chances to score at least one goal.

Another note here is that Ali Al Hamadi is firmly back in the XI after an indifferent pre-season due to transfer speculation. He joined last summer and scored ten goals in his final 14 appearances last season and is now playing in an improved Wimbledon side that are evidently creating more opportunities.

Colchester United have so far only played two competitive matches, due to a postponement on the opening weekend, and conceded twice in both.

The first came against a much-weakened Cardiff City side in the EFL Cup as the League Two side performed well and picked up a draw before going out on penalties. They then played Bradford City at the weekend and conceded two goals and allowed 2.31 xG.

Furthermore, their possession-based style under the tutelage of Ben Garner is led by a young group through the spine of the team and they will continue to gift opponents chances as they learn his ways.