Welcome to the second part of our EFL season preview! Here, we will focus on the Football League’s bottom two divisions: League One and League Two.
League One will see two teams automatically promoted into the Championship and one more through the end-of-season playoffs. However, four teams will be relegated from this division.
Little wonder that many people feel League One offers one of the toughest challenges for any team!
Three teams will be automatically promoted from League Two, while another will join them from the playoffs. Two teams will be relegated from League Two into the National League, and two teams will come up from that league to replace them.
Any odds shown in this preview are taken from bet365 Sport and were accurate at the time of writing. However, they may have changed in the meantime.
With a vast range of football offers every season, it is well worth signing up with Bet365. You’ll also get your hands on some Bet365 credits when you access the welcome bonus.
And don’t forget, there is a range of fantastic free games at bet365 that you can play throughout the football season, including fantasy sports options.
Anyway, let’s now examine the Football League’s bottom two divisions, starting with League One.
EFL League One
Opening Day EFL League One Fixtures
All fixtures kick off at 5.30 pm unless otherwise stated.
Friday 9th August
- Barnsley v Mansfield Town (8.00 pm)
Saturday 10th August
- Stockport County v Cambridge United
- Peterborough United v Huddersfield Town
- Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town
- Leyton Orient v Bolton Wanderers
- Burton Albon v Lincoln City
- Crawley Town v Blackpool
- Exeter City v Rotherham United
- Stevenage v Shrewsbury Town
- Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic
- Wrexham v Wycombe Wanderers
- Birmingham City v Reading
Current EFL League One Favourites for Outright Promotion
Three teams get promoted from League One into the Championship, two outright and a third via the playoffs.
- 3.25 – Birmingham City
- 11.00 – Bolton Wanderers
- 12.00 – Rotherham United
- 13.00 – Wrexham, Huddersfield Town
- 15.00 – Peterborough United
- 17.00 – Charlton Athletic
- 19.00 – Barnsley
- 21.00 – Wycombe Wanderers, Blackpool, Stockport County, Reading
- 26.00 – Wigan Athletic, Lincoln City
- 34.00 – Bristol Rovers
- 51.00 – Leyton Orient
- 67.00 – Mansfield Town, Burton Albion
- 81.00 – Stevenage
- 101.00 – Exeter City
- 151.00 – Cambridge United, Northampton Town
- 201.00 – Shrewsbury Town
- 251.00 – Crawley Town
Current EFL League One Favourites for Relegation
Four teams are relegated from League One into League Two.
- 1.72 – Crawley Town
- 2.25 – Shrewsbury Town
- 2.37 – Cambridge United
- 2.62 – Northampton Town
- 3.25 – Exeter City
- 3.50 – Burton Albion, Stevenage
- 3.75 – Mansfield Town
- 4.00 – Leyton Orient
- 5.00 – Bristol Rovets
- 5.50 – Reading
- 7.50 – Lincoln City
- 8.00 – Wigan Athletic
- 9.00 – Stockport County
- 11.00 – Wycombe Wanderers
- 12.00 – Barnsley
- 13.00 – Charlton Athletic, Blackpool
- 17.00 – Peterborough United
- 21.00 – Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United, Wrexham
- 26.00 – Bolton Wanderers
- 101.00 – Birmingham City
Current EFL League One Favourites to Finish in the Top 6
The top six will see two teams automatically promoted, as well as the four other teams competing in the end of season playoffs.
- 1.22 – Birmingham City
- 1.90 – Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers
- 2.25 – Wrexham
- 2.37 – Huddersfield Town
- 2.50 – Peterborough United
- 2.75 – Charlton Athletic
- 3.00 – Barnsley
- 3.25 – Blackpool
- 3.50 – Stockport County, Wycombe Wanderers
- 3.75 – Wigan Athletic, Reading
- 4.00 – Lincoln City
- 5.00 – Bristol Rovers
- 7.00 – Leyton Orient, Mansfield Town
- 8.00 – Burton Albion, Stevenage
- 9.00 – Exeter City
- 13.00 – Northampton Town, Cambridge United
- 15.00 – Shrewsbury Town
- 21.00 – Crawley Town
Major EFL League One Manager Moves
- Stevenage – Alex Revell appointed manager from caretaker manager.
- Cheltenham Town – Out – Darrell Clarke, In – Michael Flynn
- Barnsley – Out – Martin Devaney (caretaker), In – Darrell Clarke
- Burton Albion – Out – Martin Paterson, In – Mark Robinson
Major EFL League One Summer Transfer Deals
- Conor Hourihane (MC) – Derby County to Barnsley
- Herbie Kane (MC) – Barnsley to Huddersfield Town
- Christoph Klarer (DC) – Darmstadt 98 (GER) to Birmingham City
- Willum Thor Willumson (AMC) – Go Ahead Eagles (HOL) to Birmingham City
- Emil Hansson (AML) – Heracles to Birmingham City
- Alex Cochrane (DL) – Hearts to Birmingham City
- Alfie May (AC) – Charlton to Birmingham City
- Ashley Fletcher (AC) – Watford to Blackpool
- Scott Arfield (MC) – Charlotte (MLS) to Bolton Wanderers
- Promise Omochere (AMR) – Fleetwood to Bristol Rovers
- Isacc Hutchison (MC) – Walsall to Bristol Rovers
- Antony Evans (AMC) – Bristol Rovets to Huddersfield Town
- Cole Stockton (AC) – Burton Albion to Salford City (L2)
- Matty Godden (AC) – Coventry City to Charlton Athletic
- Corey Blackett-Taylor (AMR) – Charlton Athletic to Derby County (CH)
- Ryan Woods (MC) – Hull City to Exeter City
- James Wilson (AC) – Port Vale to Northampton Town
- Ronnie Edwards (DC) – Peterborough Utd to Southampton (EPL)
- Viktor Johansson (GK) – Rotherham to Stoke City (CH)
Our Two Teams to Back for EFL League One Automatic Promotion
- Birmingham City – 1.66
- Bolton Wanderers – 4.00
Our Three Players to Back for EFL League One Top Goalscorer
- Aaron Collins (Bolton Wanderers)
- Paul Mullin (Wrexham)
- Steven Fletcher (Wrexham)
EFL League Two
Opening Day EFL League Two Fixtures
All fixtures kick off at 3 pm unless otherwise stated.
Friday 9th August
Chesterfield v Swindon Town (8.00 pm)
Saturday 10th August
- Cheltenham Town v Newport County
- Barrow v Crewe Alexandra
- Harrogate Town v Bromley
- AFC Wimbledon v Colchester
- Fleetwood Town v Grimsby Town
- Doncaster v Accrington Stanley
- Tranmere Rovers v Notts County
- MK Dons v Bradford City
- Gillingham v Carlisle United
- Salford City v Port Vale
- Walsall v Morecambe
Current EFL League Two Favourites for Outright Promotion
Three teams gain promotion automatically from League Two to League One, with another team being promoted via the playoffs.
- 7.50 – Chesterfield
- 9.00 – Gillingham, MK Dons
- 11.00 – Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale
- 15.00 – Bradford City, Carlisle United
- 17.00 – Notts County, Salford City
- 21.00 – AFC Wimbledon, Cheltenham Town, Walsall
- 26.00 – Crewe Alexandra, Barrow, Fleetwood Town, Tranmere Rovers
- 34.00 – Swindon Town, Colchester United
- 41.00 – Accrington Stanley, Grimsby Town, Newport County
- 51.00 – Harrogate Town
- 67.00 – Morecambe, Bromley
Current EFL League Two Favourites for Relegation
Two teams are relegated from League Two down to the National League.
- 3.25 – Morecambe
- 3.50 – Bromley
- 5.00 – Harrogate Town
- 6.00 – Newport County
- 6.50 – Accrington Stanley
- 7.00 – Grimsby Town
- 8.00 – Swindon Town
- 9.00 – Colchester United
- 10.00 – Barrow, Fleetwood Town
- 11.00 – Tranmere Rovers
- 13.00 – Crewe Alexandra
- 15.00 – Walsall, Cheltenham Town
- 17.00 – AFC Wimbledon
- 19.00 – Carlisle United
- 21.00 – Notts County, Salford City
- 26.00 – Bradford City
- 29.00 – Port Vale
- 34.00 – Doncaster Rovers
- 51.00 – MK Dons, Chesterfield, Gillingham
Current EFL League Two Favourites to Finish in the Top Seven
The top seven includes the three teams automatically promoted and the teams 4th to 7th who qualify for the end of season playoffs.
- 1.61 – Chesterfield
- 1.83 – Gillingham, MK Dons, Doncaster Rovers
- 2.20 – Carlisle United
- 2.25 – Notts County
- 2.37 – Bradford City
- 2.50 – Port Vale
- 2.62 – Salford City
- 3.00 – AFC Wimbledon
- 3.25 – Walsall, Cheltenham Town
- 3.75 – Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers
- 4.00 – Barrow, Fleetwood Town
- 4.50 – Swindon Town
- 5.00 – Grimsby Town, Accrington Stanley, Colchester United
- 5.50 – Newport County
- 7.00 – Harrogate Town
- 9.00 – Bromley, Morecambe
Major EFL League Two Manager Moves
- Newport County – Out – Graham Coughlan, In – Nelson Jardim
- Gillingham – Out – Stephen Clemence, In – Mark Bonner
- Morecambe – Out – Ged Brannan, In – Derek Adams
- Barrow – Out – Pete Wild, In – Stephen Clemence
- Swindon Town – Out – Gavin Gunning, In – Mark Kennedy
Major EFL League Two Summer Transfers
- Farrend Rawson (DC) – Morecambe to Accrington Stanley
- Toby Savin (GK) – Accrington Stanley to Shrewsbury Town (L1)
- Jack Nolan (AML) – Accrington Stanley to Gillingham
- Joe Pritchard (MC) – Accrington Stanley to MK Dons
- John-Joe O’Toole (DC) – Mansfield Town to AFC Wimbledon
- Zack Robinson (AC) – AFC Wimbledon to Motherwell (SPL)
- Josh Davison (AC) – AFC Wimbledon to Tranmere Rovers
- George Ray (DRC) – Morecambe to Barrow
- James Chester (DC) – Salford City to Barrow
- Matty Platt (DC) – Bradford City to Notts County
- Charlie Wyke (AC) – Wigan Athletic to Carlisle United
- Luke Young (MC) – Wrexham to Cheltenham Town
- Luke Southwood (GK) – Cheltenham Town to Bolton Wanderers (L1)
- Paddy Madden (AC) – Stockport to Chesterfield
- Jack Payne (AMC) – Charlton to Colchester United
- Matt Macey (GK) – Portsmouth to Colchester United
- Omar Bogle (AC) – Newport County to Crewe Alexandra
- Kane Hemmings (AC) – Stevenage to Crewe Alexandra
- Elliott Nevitt (AC) – Crewe Alexandra to Gillingham
- Billy Sharp (AC) – Hull City to Doncaster Rovers
- Promise Omochere (AMR) – Fleetwood Town to Bristol Rovers (L1)
- Abo Eisa (AML) – Grimsby Town to Nongbua FC (THL)
- Tommy Leigh (MC) – Accrington Stanley to MK Dons
- Max Dean (AC) – MK Dons to KAA Gent (BEL)
- Paul Lewis (MC) – Tranmere Rovers to Morecambe
- Macauley Longstaff (AC) – Notts County to Millwall (CH)
- Tom Edwards (DR) – Stoke City to Salford City
- Ben Woodburn (MC) – Preston to Salford City
- Alex Cairns (GK) – Salford City to Leeds United (CH)
- Albert Adomah (AMR) – QPR to Walsall
Our Three Teams to Back for EFL League Two Automatic Promotion
- Gillingham 2.87
- Salford City – 4.50
- Tranmere Rovers – 6.50
Our Three Players to Back for EFL League Two Top Goalscorer
- Elliot Nevitt (Gillingham)
- Billy Sharp (Doncaster Rovers)
- Paddy Madden (Chesterfield)
Check back next week when we will complete our full preview of the forthcoming English Football League season when we check out an in-depth preview of the new Premier League season!
