2018–19 EFL League Two

EFL League Two
Season2018–19
ChampionsLincoln City
(2nd title)
PromotedLincoln City
Bury
Milton Keynes Dons
Tranmere Rovers
RelegatedNotts County
Yeovil Town
Matches played552
Goals scored1,409 (2.55 per match)
Top goalscorerJames Norwood
(29 goals)
Biggest home winCrewe Alexandra 6–0 Morecambe
(4 August 2018)
Colchester United 6–0 Crewe Alexandra
(21 August 2018)
Carlisle United 6–0 Oldham Athletic
(26 December 2018)
Milton Keynes Dons 6–0 Cambridge United
(1 January 2019)
Biggest away winNewport County 0–6 Yeovil Town
(15 September 2018)
Highest scoringPort Vale 2–6 Lincoln City
(13 October 2018)
Longest winning run7 matches[1]
Tranmere Rovers
Longest unbeaten run19 matches[1]
Lincoln City
Longest winless run13 matches[1]
Macclesfield Town
Longest losing run6 matches[1]
Grimsby Town
Notts County
Yeovil Town
Highest attendance20,718[1]
Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Mansfield Town
(4 May 2019)
Lowest attendance1,355[1]
Morecambe 0–1 Mansfield Town
(23 October 2018)
Total attendance2,461,975[1]
Average attendance4,468[1]

The 2018–19 EFL League Two (referred to as the Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the 15th season of Football League Two under its current title and the 26th season under its current league division format.

Team changes

To League Two

Promoted from National League

Relegated from League One

From League Two

Promoted to League One

Relegated to National League

Stadiums

Team Location Stadium Capacity[2]
Bury Bury Gigg Lane 11,840
Cambridge United Cambridge Abbey Stadium 8,127
Carlisle United Carlisle Brunton Park 17,949
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Whaddon Road 7,066
Colchester United Colchester Colchester Community Stadium 10,105
Crawley Town Crawley Broadfield Stadium 5,996
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Gresty Road 10,180
Exeter City Exeter St James Park 6,087[a]
Forest Green Rovers Nailsworth The New Lawn 5,147
Grimsby Town Cleethorpes Blundell Park 9,052
Lincoln City Lincoln Sincil Bank 10,120
Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Moss Rose 6,355
Mansfield Town Mansfield Field Mill 10,000
Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Stadium MK 30,500
Morecambe Morecambe Globe Arena 6,476
Newport County Newport Rodney Parade 7,850
Northampton Town Northampton Sixfields Stadium 7,653
Notts County Nottingham Meadow Lane 19,588
Oldham Athletic Oldham Boundary Park 13,512
Port Vale Burslem Vale Park 19,052
Stevenage Stevenage Broadhall Way 6,722
Swindon Town Swindon County Ground 15,728
Tranmere Rovers Birkenhead Prenton Park 16,789
Yeovil Town Yeovil Huish Park 9,566
  1. ^ Capacity temporarily reduced due to redevelopment work.

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager1 Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsor
Bury Ryan Lowe Stephen Dawson Admiral PaySec[3]
Cambridge United Colin Calderwood Puma Mick George
Carlisle United Steven Pressley Danny Grainger Umbro Edinburgh Woollen Mill
Cheltenham Town Michael Duff Johnny Mullins Erreà Mira Showers[4]
Colchester United John McGreal Luke Prosser Macron JobServe
Crawley Town Gabriele Cioffi Jimmy Smith Erreà The People's Pension
Crewe Alexandra David Artell George Ray FBT Mornflake
Exeter City Matt Taylor Jake Taylor Joma Flybe
Forest Green Rovers Mark Cooper Lee Collins PlayerLayer[5] Ecotricity
Grimsby Town Michael Jolley John Welsh Erreà Young's Seafood
Lincoln City Danny Cowley Lee Frecklington Erreà NSUK
Macclesfield Town Sol Campbell Jared Hodgkiss Macron Arighi Bianchi
Mansfield Town David Flitcroft Krystian Pearce Surridge One Call
Milton Keynes Dons Paul Tisdale Dean Lewington Erreà Suzuki
Morecambe Jim Bentley Barry Roche Macron BizLoans4U
Newport County Michael Flynn Andrew Crofts FBT Interbet
Northampton Town Keith Curle David Buchanan Nike University of Northampton
Notts County Neal Ardley Richard Duffy Puma Bassingfield Wood Yard
Oldham Athletic Pete Wild Peter Clarke Sondico PFE Express
Port Vale John Askey Tom Pope BLK Manorshop.com
Stevenage Dino Maamria Ronnie Henry Macron Astute Electronics[6]
Swindon Town Richie Wellens Olly Lancashire Puma Imagine Cruising
Tranmere Rovers Micky Mellon Steve McNulty Puma B&M Waste Services
Yeovil Town Darren Sarll James Bailey TAG Jones Building Group

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Carlisle United Keith Curle Resigned 5 May 2018 Pre-season John Sheridan 5 June 2018
Milton Keynes Dons Keith Millen End of caretaker spell Paul Tisdale 6 June 2018
Exeter City Paul Tisdale End of contract 1 June 2018 Matt Taylor 1 June 2018
Macclesfield Town John Askey Signed by Shrewsbury Town Mark Yates 19 June 2018
Oldham Athletic Richie Wellens Sacked 8 June 2018 Frankie Bunn 13 June 2018
Cheltenham Town Gary Johnson 21 August 2018 21st Michael Duff 10 September 2018
Notts County Kevin Nolan 26 August 2018 24th Harry Kewell 31 August 2018
Crawley Town Harry Kewell Signed by Notts County 31 August 2018 14th Gabriele Cioffi 7 September 2018
Northampton Town Dean Austin Mutual consent 1 October 2018 21st Keith Curle 1 October 2018
Macclesfield Town Mark Yates Sacked 8 October 2018 24th Sol Campbell 27 November 2018
Swindon Town Phil Brown 12 November 2018 17th Richie Wellens 13 November 2018
Notts County Harry Kewell 13 November 2018 22nd Neal Ardley 24 November 2018
Cambridge United Joe Dunne 1 December 2018 Colin Calderwood 19 December 2018
Oldham Athletic Frankie Bunn 27 December 2018 12th Paul Scholes 10 February 2019
Carlisle United John Sheridan Resigned 4 January 2019 7th Steven Pressley 16 January 2019
Port Vale Neil Aspin 30 January 2019 18th John Askey 4 February 2019
Oldham Athletic Paul Scholes 14 March 2019 14th Pete Wild 15 March 2019
Yeovil Town Darren Way Sacked 24 March 2019 22nd Darren Sarll 19 June 2019

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Lincoln City (C, P) 46 23 16 7 73 43 +30 85 Promotion to EFL League One
2 Bury (P) 46 22 13 11 82 56 +26 79
3 Milton Keynes Dons (P) 46 23 10 13 71 49 +22 79
4 Mansfield Town 46 20 16 10 69 41 +28 76 Qualification for League Two play-offs[a]
5 Forest Green Rovers 46 20 14 12 68 47 +21 74
6 Tranmere Rovers (O, P) 46 20 13 13 63 50 +13 73
7 Newport County 46 20 11 15 59 59 0 71
8 Colchester United 46 20 10 16 65 53 +12 70
9 Exeter City 46 19 13 14 60 49 +11 70
10 Stevenage 46 20 10 16 59 55 +4 70
11 Carlisle United 46 20 8 18 67 62 +5 68
12 Crewe Alexandra 46 19 8 19 60 59 +1 65
13 Swindon Town 46 16 16 14 59 56 +3 64
14 Oldham Athletic 46 16 14 16 67 60 +7 62
15 Northampton Town 46 14 19 13 64 63 +1 61
16 Cheltenham Town 46 15 12 19 57 68 −11 57
17 Grimsby Town 46 16 8 22 45 56 −11 56
18 Morecambe 46 14 12 20 54 70 −16 54
19 Crawley Town 46 15 8 23 51 68 −17 53
20 Port Vale 46 12 13 21 39 55 −16 49
21 Cambridge United 46 12 11 23 40 66 −26 47
22 Macclesfield Town 46 10 14 22 48 74 −26 44
23 Notts County (R) 46 9 14 23 48 84 −36 41 Relegation to the National League
24 Yeovil Town (R) 46 9 13 24 41 66 −25 40
Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results [7]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to EFL League One.

Play-offs

Semi-finals Final
        
4 Mansfield Town 1 0 1 (3)
7 Newport County (p) 1 0 1 (5)
7 Newport County 0
6 Tranmere Rovers 1
5 Forest Green Rovers 0 1 1
6 Tranmere Rovers 1 1 2

Results

Home \ Away BUR CAM CAR CHL COL CRA CRE EXE FGR GRI LIN MAC MAN MKD MOR NEW NOR NOT OLD POR STE SWI TRA YEO
Bury 0–3 0–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 3–3 3–0 2–2 4–3 3–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–0
Cambridge United 2–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–3 1–0 1–2 1–0 1–1 0–1 1–2 0–3 3–2 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–0 0–0
Carlisle United 3–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 4–2 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 2–1 3–2 2–3 0–2 3–2 2–2 1–3 6–0 2–1 0–1 2–1 0–2 0–1
Cheltenham Town 1–1 2–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 3–1 4–1 0–0 1–0 0–2 3–2 1–3 1–0
Colchester United 1–2 3–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 6–0 1–1 0–3 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–3 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 3–3 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–0 0–2 3–1
Crawley Town 3–2 2–0 2–3 1–0 2–0 3–0 1–1 1–2 2–1 0–3 1–1 0–0 0–4 2–0 4–1 0–1 1–1 0–3 0–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–1
Crewe Alexandra 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 6–1 1–2 4–3 2–0 2–1 3–0 0–3 0–0 6–0 3–2 0–2 3–0 0–2 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 2–0
Exeter City 0–1 1–0 3–1 3–1 3–0 1–3 1–0 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–1 1–4 3–1 0–0 1–1 2–2 5–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–1 2–1
Forest Green Rovers 1–2 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 3–1 3–0
Grimsby Town 0–0 0–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 3–0 0–0 4–0 0–3 2–0 0–2 2–1 5–2 0–1
Lincoln City 2–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–3 0–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 2–1 3–1 3–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 4–1 0–0 1–0
Macclesfield Town 1–4 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–3 3–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–0 0–5 0–1 2–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–0
Mansfield Town 2–1 1–0 1–0 4–2 1–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 3–0 4–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 3–0 0–1
Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 6–0 2–0 3–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–0
Morecambe 2–3 3–0 0–2 4–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–2 3–0 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–1 4–2 1–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–2 0–1 3–4 2–1
Newport County 3–1 4–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–4 1–0 1–0 3–3 1–0 0–1 1–1 3–1 3–2 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–6
Northampton Town 0–0 2–2 3–0 1–3 0–4 0–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 2–2 0–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2
Notts County 0–0 0–1 1–1 0–3 0–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–4 2–2 0–0 0–0 3–3 1–2 3–2 0–4
Oldham Athletic 4–2 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–3 2–1 1–1 2–3 0–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–2 1–2 1–2 0–1 2–5 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 4–1
Port Vale 1–0 3–0 0–1 2–2 0–3 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–6 0–1 2–1 0–2 0–1 1–2 2–0 2–2 1–4 1–4 0–1 1–2 3–0
Stevenage 0–1 0–1 3–0 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 1–1 0–2 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–3 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–3 3–2 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–0
Swindon Town 1–2 0–2 0–4 0–0 3–0 0–1 1–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–2 0–0 1–1 4–0 2–1 1–1 3–1 0–0 0–0 3–2 3–2 1–1
Tranmere Rovers 1–1 1–0 3–0 1–0 1–1 5–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 4–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0
Yeovil Town 0–1 1–0 0–0 1–4 1–1 0–1 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 3–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–0 0–3 2–0 0–3 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2019. Source: EFL Official Website
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Statistics

Top scorers

As of 4 May 2019[8]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 James Norwood Tranmere Rovers 29
2 Tyler Walker Mansfield Town 21
Nicky Maynard Bury
4 Kieran Agard Milton Keynes Dons 20
5 Chuks Aneke Milton Keynes Dons 17
6 Jayden Stockley Exeter City 16
7 Jay O'Shea Bury 15
John Akinde Lincoln City
9 Ollie Palmer Crawley Town 14
Luke Varney Cheltenham Town
Padraig Amond Newport County

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref
Michael Doughty Swindon Town Macclesfield Town 3–2 (H) 4 August 2018 [9]
Alex Fisher Yeovil Town Notts County 0–4 (A) 17 August 2018 [10]
Matt Crooks Northampton Town Macclesfield Town 0–5 (A) 23 October 2018 [11]
Chris O'Grady Oldham Athletic Bury 4–2 (H) 15 December 2018 [12]
Jayden Stockley Exeter City Oldham Athletic 2–3 (A) 22 December 2018 [13]
George Williams Forest Green Rovers Newport County 1–4 (A) 26 December 2018 [14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "English League Two Performance Stats – 2018–19". ESPN. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Football Ground Guide". Football Ground Guide. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Record Deal for Front of Shirt Partnership with Sappaya". BuryFC.co.uk. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Robins and Mira Showers celebrate decade with new deal". CTFC.com. 3 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Forest Green Rovers Cancel Hummel Deal Following Company's Fail to Deliver Kits". Footy Headlines. 22 August 2018.
  6. ^ "New Major Sponsorship Deal with Astute Electronics Announced". StevenageFC.com. 19 June 2017.
  7. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Top Scorers – League Two". Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Swindon Town's Michael Doughty explains shirt number choice". Swindon Advertiser. 7 August 2018.
  10. ^ Evans, Daniel (18 August 2018). "Yeovil Town thrash Notts County away to rocket up League Two". Somerset Live.
  11. ^ Heneghan, James (23 October 2018). "Classy Crooks scores first-half hat-trick as five-star Cobblers demolish Macclesfield". Northampton Chronicle & Echo.
  12. ^ "Oldham 4-2 Bury: O'Grady hat-trick lifts hosts". Sky Sports. 15 December 2018.
  13. ^ Phillip, Mark (24 December 2018). "Hat-trick hero Stockley stuns Latics to give Exeter victory". Oldham Reporter.
  14. ^ "Newport 1-4 Forest Green - Williams hat-trick sinks 10-man Exiles". Stroud News & Journal. 26 December 2018.