The 2020–21 EFL League Two (referred to as the Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the 17th season of Football League Two under its current title and the 29th season under its current league division format.[1][2]
Season | 2020–21 |
---|---|
Dates | 12 September 2020 – 8 May 2021 |
Champions | Cheltenham Town |
Promoted | Cheltenham Town Cambridge United Bolton Wanderers Morecambe |
Relegated | Southend United Grimsby Town |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,303 (2.36 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Paul Mullin (32 goals) |
Biggest home win | Tranmere Rovers 5–0 Grimsby Town (21 November 2020) Exeter City 6–1 Colchester United (24 November 2020) Exeter City 5–0 Tranmere Rovers (12 December 2020) |
Biggest away win | Morecambe 0–5 Cambridge United (19 September 2020) Scunthorpe United 0–5 Cambridge United (17 October 2020) |
Highest scoring | Bolton Wanderers 3–6 Port Vale (5 December 2020) Harrogate Town 5–4 Cambridge United (30 April 2021) |
Longest winning run | Bolton Wanderers Port Vale (6 games) |
Longest unbeaten run | Bolton Wanderers (14 games) |
Longest winless run | Colchester United Walsall (14 games) |
Longest losing run | Southend United (6 games) |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → |
Team changes
editThe following teams have changed divisions since the 2019–20 season.
- ^ Stevenage originally finished 24th in the 2019–20 EFL League Two table, but after 17 points were deducted against Macclesfield Town, Macclesfield slipped to 24th, and Stevenage were granted a reprieve from relegation.[3]
Stadiums
edit
- ^ Harrogate Town began the season at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.[4]
Personnel and sponsoring
edit- ^ Tottenham Hotspur player Harry Kane, who played for Leyton Orient early in his career, bought the club's shirt sponsorship for the 2020–21 season. Each of the team's shirts will feature a different message or charity chosen by Kane: "Thank You Frontline Workers" (home shirt), Haven House Children's Hospice (away shirt), and Mind (third shirt).[8]
Managerial changes
editTeam | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bolton Wanderers | Keith Hill[14] | End of contract | 12 June 2020 | Pre-season | Ian Evatt[15] | 1 July 2020 |
Southend United | Sol Campbell[16] | Mutual consent | 30 June 2020 | Mark Molesley[17] | 13 August 2020 | |
Barrow | Ian Evatt[15] | Signed by Bolton Wanderers | 1 July 2020 | David Dunn[18] | 9 July 2020 | |
Tranmere Rovers | Micky Mellon[19] | Signed by Dundee United | 6 July 2020 | Mike Jackson[20] | 18 July 2020 | |
Colchester United | John McGreal[21] | Sacked | 14 July 2020 | Steve Ball[22] | 28 July 2020 | |
Oldham Athletic | Dino Maamria[23] | 31 July 2020 | Harry Kewell[24] | 1 August 2020 | ||
Scunthorpe United | Russ Wilcox[25] | End of caretaker spell | 7 August 2020 | Neil Cox[26] | 7 August 2020 | |
Salford City | Graham Alexander[27] | Sacked | 12 October 2020 | 5th | Richie Wellens[28] | 4 November 2020 |
Mansfield Town | Graham Coughlan[29] | 27 October 2020 | 22nd | Nigel Clough[30] | 6 November 2020 | |
Tranmere Rovers | Mike Jackson[31] | 31 October 2020 | 18th | Keith Hill[32] | 21 November 2020 | |
Bradford City | Stuart McCall[33] | 13 December 2020 | 22nd | Mark Trueman Conor Sellars[34] |
22 February 2021 | |
Barrow | David Dunn[35] | 21st | Michael Jolley[36] | 23 December 2020 | ||
Grimsby Town | Ian Holloway[37] | Resigned | 23 December 2020 | 20th | Paul Hurst[38] | 30 December 2020 |
Port Vale | John Askey[39] | Sacked | 4 January 2021 | 17th | Darrell Clarke[40] | 15 February 2021 |
Walsall | Darrell Clarke | Signed by Port Vale[41] | 15 February 2021 | 11th | Brian Dutton[41] | 15 February 2021 |
Barrow | Michael Jolley | Sacked | 21 February 2021 | 23rd | Rob Kelly (Caretaker)[42] | 21 February 2021 |
Colchester United | Steve Ball | 24 February 2021 | 21st | Wayne Brown (Caretaker)[43] | 24 February 2021 | |
Leyton Orient | Ross Embleton[44] | 27 February 2021 | 14th | Jobi McAnuff (Caretaker)[45] | 28 February 2021 | |
Oldham Athletic | Harry Kewell[46] | 7 March 2021 | 16th | Keith Curle[47] | 8 March 2021 | |
Salford City | Richie Wellens[48] | Mutual consent | 22 March 2021 | 9th | Gary Bowyer[49] | 23 March 2021 |
Colchester United | Wayne Brown (Caretaker)[43] | End of caretaker spell | 31 March 2021 | 21st | Hayden Mullins (Caretaker)[50] | 31 March 2021 |
Southend United | Mark Molesley[51] | Mutual consent | 9 April 2021 | 23rd | Phil Brown[52] | 9 April 2021 |
Forest Green Rovers | Mark Cooper[53] | Sacked | 11 April 2021 | 6th | Jimmy Ball (interim)[53] | 11 April 2021 |
Tranmere Rovers | Keith Hill[54] | Sacked | 11 May 2021 | 7th | Ian Dawes[54] (caretaker) | 11 May 2021 |
League table
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cheltenham Town (C, P) | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 61 | 39 | +22 | 82 | Promotion to the EFL League One |
2 | Cambridge United (P) | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 73 | 49 | +24 | 80 | |
3 | Bolton Wanderers (P) | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 79 | |
4 | Morecambe (O, P) | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 69 | 58 | +11 | 78 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
5 | Newport County | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 57 | 42 | +15 | 73 | |
6 | Forest Green Rovers | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 73 | |
7 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 73 | |
8 | Salford City | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 71 | |
9 | Exeter City | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 71 | 50 | +21 | 70 | |
10 | Carlisle United | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 60 | 51 | +9 | 66 | |
11 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 61 | |
12 | Crawley Town | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 56 | 62 | −6 | 61 | |
13 | Port Vale | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 57 | 57 | 0 | 60 | |
14 | Stevenage | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 60 | |
15 | Bradford City | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 48 | 53 | −5 | 59 | |
16 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 57 | 55 | +2 | 58 | |
17 | Harrogate Town | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 57 | |
18 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 72 | 81 | −9 | 54 | |
19 | Walsall | 46 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 53 | |
20 | Colchester United | 46 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 44 | 61 | −17 | 51 | |
21 | Barrow | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 53 | 59 | −6 | 50 | |
22 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 41 | 64 | −23 | 48 | |
23 | Southend United (R) | 46 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 29 | 58 | −29 | 45 | Relegation to National League |
24 | Grimsby Town (R) | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 37 | 69 | −32 | 43 |
Updated to match(es) played on 31 May 2021. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[55]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[55]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
editSemi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
4 | Morecambe | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
7 | Tranmere Rovers | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
4 | Morecambe | 1 | |||||||||
5 | Newport County | 0 | |||||||||
5 | Newport County | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||||||
6 | Forest Green Rovers | 0 | 4 | 4 |
First leg
Tranmere Rovers | 1–2 | Morecambe |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Second leg
Morecambe | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers |
---|---|---|
Wildig 9' | Report | Vaughan 53' |
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Forest Green Rovers | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Newport County |
---|---|---|
Adams 7' Aaron Collins 8' Cadden 53' Matt 87' |
Report | Ellison 70' Labadie 77' Maynard 119' |
Final
Morecambe | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Newport County |
---|---|---|
Mendes Gomes 107' (pen.) | Report |
Results
editSeason statistics
editTop scorers
edit- As of 8 May 2021[56]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Mullin | Cambridge United | 32 |
2 | Eoin Doyle | Bolton Wanderers | 19 |
3 | Matt Jay | Exeter City | 18 |
James Vaughan | Tranmere Rovers | ||
5 | Ian Henderson | Salford City | 17 |
Danny Johnson | Leyton Orient | ||
Conor McAleny | Oldham Athletic | ||
8 | Jamille Matt | Forest Green Rovers | 16 |
9 | Carlos Mendes Gomes | Morecambe | 15 |
Jack Muldoon | Harrogate Town | ||
Scott Quigley | Barrow |
Hat-tricks
editPlayer | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Mullin | Cambridge United | Morecambe | 5–0 | 19 September 2020 | [57] |
Ian Henderson | Salford City | Grimsby Town | 4–0 | 19 September 2020 | [58] |
Jamille Matt | Forest Green Rovers | Scunthorpe United | 4–1 | 10 October 2020 | [59] |
Paul Mullin | Cambridge United | Port Vale | 3–1 | 20 October 2020 | [60] |
Jevani Brown | Colchester United | Stevenage | 3–1 | 3 November 2020 | [61] |
Danny Johnson | Leyton Orient | Harrogate Town | 3–0 | 21 November 2020 | [62] |
Ryan Bowman | Exeter City | Colchester United | 6–1 | 24 November 2020 | [63] |
Ryan Bowman | Exeter City | Tranmere Rovers | 5–0 | 12 December 2020 | [64] |
Max Watters | Crawley Town | Barrow | 4–2 | 12 December 2020 | [65] |
Jordan Bowery | Mansfield Town | Port Vale | 4–0 | 2 January 2021 | [66] |
Matt Jay | Exeter City | Leyton Orient | 4–0 | 6 March 2021 | [67] |
Brendan Kiernan | Harrogate Town | Cambridge United | 5–4 | 30 April 2021 | [68] |
Awards
editAward | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | Paul Mullin[69] | Cambridge United |
EFL League Two Team of the season
Pos. | Player | Club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
GK | Václav Hladký | Salford City | [69][70] |
DF | Kyle Knoyle | Cambridge United | |
DF | Will Boyle | Cheltenham Town | |
DF | Jordan Tunnicliffe | Crawley Town | |
DF | Ibou Touray | Salford City | |
MF | David Worrall | Port Vale | |
MF | Antoni Sarcevic | Bolton Wanderers | |
MF | Wes Hoolahan | Cambridge United | |
MF | Chris Hussey | Cheltenham Town | |
FW | Matt Jay | Exeter City | |
FW | Paul Mullin | Cambridge United | |
Manager | Michael Duff | Cheltenham Town |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "League Two clubs vote to end season, but League One teams fail to decide". BBC Sport. 15 May 2020.
- ^ "EFL statement: latest update". www.efl.com.
- ^ "Macclesfield relegated after appeal upheld". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Harrogate Town: Doncaster Rovers groundshare for EFL newcomers". BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Robins and Mira Showers celebrate decade with new deal". CTFC.com. 3 January 2018.
- ^ "George Francomb takes on Reds captaincy". www.crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Forest Green Rovers Cancel Hummel Deal Following Company's Fail to Deliver Kits". Footy Headlines. 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Harry Kane: England captain donates Leyton Orient shirt sponsorship to good causes". BBC Sport. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Record kit deal announced". Morecambe F.C. 21 May 2019.
- ^ "#SOSCTD | Alzheimer's Society Cymru confirmed as main sponsors on front of Exiles' 2020/21 home shirt". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "NEWPORT COUNTY AFC LAUNCHES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH PURE VANS". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "KIT LAUNCH | Newport County AFC's 2020/21 third shirt released". www.newport-county.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "oldhamathletic: CAPTAIN 5 Carl Piergianni Defender". Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Keith Hill: Bolton Wanderers boss to leave after relegation from League One". BBC Sport. 12 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers name Barrow manager as new head coach". BBC Sport. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Sol Campbell: Southend United manager leaves by mutual consent". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Mark Molesley: Southend United name Weymouth boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "David Dunn: Barrow name ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder as new manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ "Dundee United: Micky Mellon appointed as manager". BBC. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Mike Jackson appointed first team manager", Tranmere Rovers, 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020
- ^ "John McGreal: Colchester United part company with head coach". BBC. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ "Colchester United: Steve Ball named new head coach". BBC. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ "Dino Maamria: Oldham Athletic sack head coach after 10 months". BBC Sport. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Harry Kewell: Oldham Athletic name ex-Liverpool & Leeds United winger as new boss". BBC Sport. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "Scunthorpe United looking for new manager as Russ Wilcox returns to under-23s role – but player signings imminent". Grimsbylive. Grimsby Telegraph. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "Neil Cox: Scunthorpe United appoint Notts County assistant as new manager". BBC Sport. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Graham Alexander: Salford City sack boss & put Paul Scholes in charge". BBC Sport. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Richie Wellens: Salford City name Swindon Town boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Club Statement". Mansfield Town. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Nigel Clough: Mansfield Town appoint Nottingham Forest favourite and ex-Derby boss as manager". BBC Sport. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Mike Jackson: Tranmere Rovers sack manager after three months". BBC Sport. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Keith Hill: Tranmere Rovers name ex-Rochdale and Bolton boss as their new manager". BBC Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020..
- ^ "Stuart McCall: Bradford City sack manager after six straight defeats". BBC Sport. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Bradford City: Mark Trueman & Conor Sellars take charge 'until further notice's". BBC Sport. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "David Dunn: Barrow part company with manager". BBC Sport. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Michael Jolley: Barrow appoint former Grimsby Town boss as manager". BBC Sport. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Ian Holloway: Grimsby Town manager quits amid talk of potential club takeover". BBC Sport. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Paul Hurst: Grimsby re-appoint former manager as Ian Holloway replacement". BBC Sport. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "John Askey: Port Vale sack manager and assistant Dave Kevan". BBC Sport. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Port Vale appoints Darrell Clarke as new Manager". Port Vale FC. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Club Statement: Darrell Clarke". Walsall FC. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jolley: Barrow part company with manager after two months". BBC. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Wayne Brown: Colchester United name interim first-team coach". BBC. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Ross Embleton: Leyton Orient Part Company with Head Coach Ross Embleton". Leyton Orient F.C. 27 February 2020.
- ^ "Jobi McAnuff appointed Interim Orient Manager". Leyton Orient. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Harry Kewell sacked as Oldham manager after seven months in charge". BBC Sport. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Keith Curle: Oldham Athletic appoint ex-Northampton Town boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Club Statement". Salford City. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Gary Bowyer appointed Manager". Salford City. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Hayden Takes The Reins". Colchester United. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Club Statement:Mark Molesley". Southend United. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Southend United confirm Phil Brown's return as Mark Molesley departs". Echo News. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Club Statement: Mark Cooper". www.fgr.co.uk. 11 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Club Statement - Keith Hill". Tranmere Rovers. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021..
- ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
- ^ "Top Scorers – League Two". Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Morecambe 0-5 Cambridge United". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Grimsby 0-4 Salford: Ian Henderson hits hat-trick". Sky Sports. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
- ^ "Scunthorpe 1-4 Forest Green: Jamille Matt hits hat-trick in Rovers comeback". Sky Sports. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Cambridge 3-1 Port Vale: Paul Mullin hat-trick fires United to victory". Sky Sports. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Colchester 3-1 Stevenage: Jevani Brown hits hat-trick for home side". Sky Sports. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Leyton Orient 3-0 Harrogate: Danny Johnson hat-trick downs Harrogate". Sky Sports. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Exeter 6-1 Colchester: Ryan Bowman hits hat-trick as Grecians record thumping win". Sky Sports. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Exeter 5-0 Tranmere: Ryan Bowman scores hat-trick as five-star Grecians run riot". Sky Sports. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Crawley 4-2 Barrow: Max Watters hits hat-trick in overdue Town win". Sky Sports. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Mansfield 4-0 Port Vale: Jordan Bowery hits treble in long overdue home win". Sky Sports. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Exeter 4-0 Leyton Orient". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Harrogate Town 5–4 Cambridge United". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ a b "2021 EFL Awards winners announced". EFL. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ EFL (English Football League) [@EFL] (29 April 2021). "It's time to introduce your @SkyBetChamp Team of the Season! #EFL | #EFLAwards" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 October 2021 – via Twitter.