EFL League One PREVIEW 29 Aug 2026: Russell Martin takes Leicester back to where he started, still looking for a first win

MK Dons against Leicester City at 12:30 BST is the fixture of the round for reasons that have nothing to do with either club's form. Leicester are in the third tier after a second successive relegation, confirmed by a 2-2 home draw with Hull City on 22 April 2026 that left them seven points adrift with two matches to play, ten years after winning the Premier League and with six points docked for breaching spending rules, an appeal they lost. Gary Rowett, who had taken over in February as the fourth manager of that season, put it plainly at the time: "The bigger picture is you don't get relegated over three or four games, you get relegated over a season", and "this club won the Premier League not too many moons ago". Russell Martin was appointed on 15 June and now returns to MK Dons, where his managerial career began, still without a league win: Leicester drew at Notts County and lost at home to Burton Albion, Oliver Skipp sent off. Paul Warne's MK Dons are also unbeaten and winless, drawing at Oxford United and with Huddersfield Town, and are missing only Kane Wilson.

Blackpool host Peterborough United in the other early kick-off, Ian Evatt's side arriving from a 4-1 EFL Cup defeat at Lincoln City and Luke Williams's from a 5-1 win at Watford in the same round; Blackpool report nobody unavailable and Peterborough list Matthew Garbett as a doubt. Sheffield Wednesday against Bromley at 15:00 puts a club rebuilt after administration against one in its first season at this level: Wednesday, relegated last season under eighteen points of deductions and now under new ownership with Henrik Pedersen in charge, beat Leyton Orient and then lost at home to Bradford City, and are without Di'Shon Bernard and Tyler Onyango, with Sil Swinkels out for three to four weeks. Bromley are unbeaten, having beaten Barnsley and drawn with Cambridge United, and Andy Woodman is expected to name the same eleven.

The best defensive record on the card belongs to Bradford City, who have not conceded in any competition this season and go to Plymouth Argyle. Graham Alexander's back three and Jon McCracken have carried that; Plymouth are still without a league win after drawing with Wycombe Wanderers, and though they lost to Coventry City in the EFL Cup, Tyreek Bakinson and Oliver Irow both impressed and Malachi Boateng's injury was less serious than feared. Elsewhere at 15:00, Leyton Orient host Barnsley with no injury absentees, having beaten Wigan Athletic and knocked Walsall out of the cup, while Daniel Stendel's Barnsley are yet to win in the league despite a 3-2 cup win at Crewe Alexandra. Notts County, in their first League One season since 2015, meet a Burton Albion side who won at the King Power Stadium against ten men; Martin Paterson said his players "gave a great account of ourselves" in a 2-2 draw with Luton Town but wants more, and Darius Lipsiuc is a doubt after a clash of heads.

Three fixtures complete the card. Cambridge United host Huddersfield Town at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, Cambridge without Shayne Lavery and Huddersfield without Herbie Kane, the visitors having drawn at MK Dons after beating AFC Wimbledon. Stevenage against Doncaster Rovers at the Lamex Stadium is a meeting of two sides who arrive from midweek cup defeats, Stevenage beaten 3-0 at home by Reading and Doncaster 3-1 by Middlesbrough. And Stockport County host Wycombe Wanderers, who have drawn each of their last three matches 1-1; Stockport lost at home to Blackpool last weekend after winning at Plymouth on the opening day.