The 2021–22 EFL League Two (referred to as the Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season of Football League Two under its current title and the 30th season under its current league division format. The season is known for the dramatic finish to the last automatic spot (3rd) between Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town. Bristol Rovers started the day needing to better the result of 3rd placed Northampton Town or win by 5 goals more than their rivals. Northampton Town beat 22nd placed Barrow 3-1, and by halftime, Bristol Rovers seemed on course for a playoff position despite leading 2-0 against Scunthorpe United, thanks in part to Lobley's own goal. However, the team delivered a remarkable second-half performance, netting 5 goals against a youthful Scunthorpe side. With just 5 minutes remaining, Anderson's header propelled Bristol Rovers into the automatic promotion spot (Anderson's crucial winner against Colchester United earlier in March, secured the team's place in the playoff ranks for the first time this season). The dramatic final moments saw Bristol Rovers clinch automatic promotion from League Two based on goals scored as the two teams were tied on points and goal difference. Manager Joey Barton implored fans to clear the pitch after Anderson's decisive goal triggered a pitch invasion, halting the match for nearly 20 minutes. Fortunately, the remaining 5 minutes and added time were played without incident, sealing Bristol Rovers' immediate and triumphant return to EFL League One following last season's relegation, beating already relegated Scunthorpe United 7-0. [1][2]
Season | 2021–22 |
---|---|
Dates | 7 August 2021 – 7 May 2022 |
Champions | Forest Green Rovers |
Promoted | Forest Green Rovers Exeter City Bristol Rovers Port Vale |
Relegated | Oldham Athletic Scunthorpe United |
Matches played | 552 |
Goals scored | 1,359 (2.46 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Dom Telford (25 goals) |
Biggest home win | Bristol Rovers 7–0 Scunthorpe United (7 May 2022) |
Biggest away win |
|
Highest scoring | Oldham Athletic 5–5 Forest Green Rovers (11 December 2021) |
← 2020–21 2022–23 → |
Team changes
edit
To League TwoeditPromoted from National League Relegated from League One
|
From League TwoeditPromoted to League One Relegated to National League
|
Stadiums
editPersonnel 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 2021–22 season, his second season of doing this. Each of the team's shirts will feature a different message or charity chosen by Kane: Tommy Club (home shirt), Haven House Children's Hospice (away shirt), and Mind (third shirt).[6][7]
Managerial changes
editTeam | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leyton Orient | Jobi McAnuff[9] | End of Interim spell | 8 May 2021 | Pre-season | Kenny Jackett[10] | 21 May 2021 |
Swindon Town | Tommy Wright | John McGreal[11] | 26 May 2021 | |||
Bradford City | Mark Trueman Conor Sellars[12] |
Sacked | 10 May 2021 | Derek Adams[13] | 4 June 2021 | |
Walsall | Brian Dutton[14] | Matthew Taylor[15] | 19 May 2021 | |||
Barrow | Rob Kelly[16] | End of Caretaker spell | 14 May 2021 | Mark Cooper[17] | 28 May 2021 | |
Tranmere Rovers | Ian Dawes | 23 May 2021 | Micky Mellon[18] | 1 June 2021 | ||
Forest Green Rovers | Jimmy Ball | Rob Edwards[19] | 27 May 2021 | |||
Swindon Town | John McGreal[20] | Mutual consent | 25 June 2021 | Ben Garner[21] | 21 July 2021 | |
Rochdale | Brian Barry-Murphy[22] | Resigned | 30 June 2021 | Robbie Stockdale[23] | 10 July 2021 | |
Newport County | Michael Flynn[24] | 1 October 2021 | 15th | James Rowberry[25] | 19 October 2021 | |
Carlisle United | Chris Beech[26] | Sacked | 10 October 2021 | 22nd | Keith Millen[27] | 26 October 2021 |
Scunthorpe United | Neil Cox[28] | 1 November 2021 | 24th | Keith Hill[29] | 5 November 2021 | |
Hartlepool United | Dave Challinor[30] | Signed by Stockport County | 10th | Graeme Lee[31] | 1 December 2021 | |
Stevenage | Alex Revell[32] | Sacked | 15 November 2021 | 21st | Paul Tisdale[33] | 28 November 2021 |
Oldham Athletic | Keith Curle[34] | 24 November 2021 | 22nd | Selim Benachour (Interim) | 24 November 2021 | |
Colchester United | Hayden Mullins[35] | 19 January 2021 | 22nd | Wayne Brown (Interim)[35] | 22 January 2022 | |
Oldham Athletic | Selim Benachour | End of Interim Spell | 22 January 2022 | 24th | John Sheridan[36] | 22 January 2022 |
Walsall | Matthew Taylor[37] | Sacked | 9 February 2022 | 21st | Michael Flynn[38] | 15 February 2022 |
Bradford City | Derek Adams[39] | 15 February 2022 | 11th | Mark Hughes[40] | 24 February 2022 | |
Leyton Orient | Kenny Jackett[41] | 22 February 2022 | 18th | Richie Wellens[42] | 9 March 2022 | |
Carlisle United | Keith Millen[43] | Mutual consent | 23 February 2022 | 23rd | Paul Simpson[44] | 23 February 2022 |
Stevenage | Paul Tisdale[45] | Sacked | 16 March 2022 | 22nd | Steve Evans[45] | 16 March 2022 |
Barrow | Mark Cooper[46] | Mutual consent | 20 March 2022 | 21st | Phil Brown[47] | 21 March 2022 |
Hartlepool United | Graeme Lee[48] | Sacked | 5 May 2022 | 16th | Michael Nelson (caretaker) | 5 May 2022 |
Crawley Town | John Yems[49][50] | Mutual consent | 6 May 2022 | 16th | Lewis Young (caretaker)[49][50] | 6 May 2022 |
League table
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Forest Green Rovers (C, P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 75 | 44 | 31 | 84 | Promotion to EFL League One |
2 | Exeter City (P) | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 65 | 41 | 24 | 84 | |
3 | Bristol Rovers (P) | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 71 | 49 | 22 | 80 | |
4 | Northampton Town | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 60 | 38 | 22 | 80 | Qualification for League Two play-offs |
5 | Port Vale (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 46 | 21 | 78 | |
6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 77 | 54 | 23 | 77 | |
7 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 52 | 15 | 77 | |
8 | Sutton United | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 53 | 16 | 76 | |
9 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 53 | 40 | 13 | 75 | |
10 | Salford City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 60 | 46 | 14 | 70 | |
11 | Newport County | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 58 | 9 | 69 | |
12 | Crawley Town | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 56 | 66 | −10 | 61 | |
13 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 62 | 47 | 15 | 58 | |
14 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 53 | 55 | −2 | 58 | |
15 | Colchester United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 48 | 60 | −12 | 55 | |
16 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 47 | 60 | −13 | 54 | |
17 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 64 | −20 | 54 | |
18 | Rochdale | 46 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 53 | |
19 | Harrogate Town | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 64 | 75 | −11 | 53 | |
20 | Carlisle United | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 39 | 62 | −23 | 53 | |
21 | Stevenage | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 45 | 68 | −23 | 47 | |
22 | Barrow | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 44 | |
23 | Oldham Athletic (R) | 46 | 9 | 11 | 26 | 46 | 75 | −29 | 38 | Relegation to National League |
24 | Scunthorpe United (R) | 46 | 4 | 14 | 28 | 29 | 90 | −61 | 26 |
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[51]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
editSemi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
4 | Northampton Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
7 | Mansfield Town | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
7 | Mansfield Town | 0 | |||||||||
5 | Port Vale | 3 | |||||||||
5 | Port Vale | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
6 | Swindon Town | 2 | 0 | 2 |
First leg
Swindon Town | 2–1 | Port Vale |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Second leg
Mansfield Town won 3–1 on aggregate.
Port Vale won 2-2 on aggregate, 6-5 on penalties.
Final
editResults
editSeason statistics
editTop scorers
edit- As of 7 May 2022
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dom Telford | Newport County | 25 |
2 | Matty Stevens | Forest Green Rovers | 23 |
3 | Harry McKirdy | Swindon Town | 20 |
4 | Jamille Matt | Forest Green Rovers | 19 |
5 | Aaron Collins | Bristol Rovers | 16 |
6 | Davis Keillor-Dunn | Oldham Athletic | 15 |
7 | Matt Jay | Exeter City | 14 |
Freddie Sears | Colchester United |
Hat-tricks
editPlayer | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andy Cook | Bradford City | Stevenage | 4–1 | 17 August 2021 | [52] |
Nicky Cadden | Forest Green Rovers | Crawley Town | 6–3 | 21 August 2021 | [53] |
Aaron Drinan | Leyton Orient | Hartlepool United | 5–0 | 30 October 2021 | [54] |
Paul Lewis | Northampton Town | Carlisle United | 3–0 | 30 October 2021 | [55] |
Dom Telford | Newport County | Stevenage | 5–0 | 30 October 2021 | [56] |
Harry McKirdy4 | Swindon Town | Northampton Town | 5–2 | 1 January 2022 | [57] |
Jack Muldoon | Harrogate Town | Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | 22 January 2022 | [58] |
Brandon Thomas-Asante | Salford City | Scunthorpe United | 5–1 | 19 March 2022 | [59] |
Aaron Collins | Bristol Rovers | Rochdale | 3–4 | 30 April 2022 | [60] |
- Notes
4 Player scored 4 goals
Monthly awards
editMonth | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August | Rob Edwards | Forest Green Rovers | Mathew Stevens | Forest Green Rovers | [61] |
September | Darrell Clarke | Port Vale | Nicky Cadden | [62] | |
October | Dom Telford | Newport County | [63] | ||
November | Rob Edwards | Forest Green Rovers | [64] | ||
December | Micky Mellon | Tranmere Rovers | Jake Beesley | Rochdale | [65] |
January | Rob Edwards | Forest Green Rovers | Luke McGee | Forest Green Rovers | [66] |
February | Matt Taylor | Exeter City | Davis Keillor-Dunn | Oldham Athletic | [67] |
March | Joey Barton | Bristol Rovers | Ruel Sotiriou | Leyton Orient | [68] |
Awards
editAward | Winner | Club |
---|---|---|
Player of the Season | Kane Wilson[69] | Forest Green Rovers |
Young Player of the Season | Finn Azaz[69] | Newport County |
EFL League Two Team of the season
Pos. | Player | Club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
GK | Joe Wollacott | Swindon Town | [70] |
DF | Jon Guthrie | Northampton Town | |
DF | Peter Clarke | Tranmere Rovers | |
DF | Jordan Turnbull | Salford City | |
MF | Kane Wilson | Forest Green Rovers | |
MF | Timothée Dieng | Exeter City | |
MF | Finn Azaz | Newport County | |
MF | Nicky Cadden | Forest Green Rovers | |
FW | Harry McKirdy | Swindon Town | |
FW | Dom Telford | Newport County | |
FW | Matty Stevens | Forest Green Rovers | |
Manager | Rob Edwards | Forest Green Rovers |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7-0 win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Northampton denied automatic promotion despite win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "George Francomb takes on Reds captaincy". Crawley Town F.C. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Matt Jay named the new Grecians captain". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "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 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Harry Kane renews 'magic partnership' with Leyton Orient after Ed Sheeran teams up with boyhood club Ipswich". TalkSport. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Perusahaan Indonesia, Mills, Jadi Pemasok Apparel Klub Inggris Tranmere Rovers". Tempo.co. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Jobi McAnuff: Leyton Orient will not offer interim manager permanent job". BBC Sport. 8 May 2021.
- ^ "LEYTON ORIENT APPOINT KENNY JACKETT AS MANAGER". www.leytonorient.com. 21 May 2021.
- ^ "John McGreal: Swindon Town appoint ex-Colchester boss as manager". BBC Sport. 26 May 2021.
- ^ Bradford City: "CLUB STATEMENT: MARK TRUEMAN AND CONOR SELLARS"
- ^ "ADAMS UNVEILED AS NEW BANTAMS BOSS". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 4 June 2021.
- ^ Walsall: " CareClub Statement: Brian Dutton"
- ^ "Matthew Taylor appointed as Saddlers Head Coach". www.saddlers.co.uk. 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Rob Kelly: Barrow assistant does not wish to take up vacant managerial position". BBC Sport. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Mark Cooper Appointed As Barrow Manager". www.barrowafc.com. 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Micky Mellon confirmed as new Tranmere Rovers manager". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Rob Edwards named Forest Green Rovers Head Coach". www.fgr.co.uk. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: JOHN MCGREAL AND RENE GILMARTIN". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "New Director of Football and Head Coach Appointed". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Club Statement: Brian Barry-Murphy". www.rochdaleafc.co.uk. 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Robbie Stockdale: Rochdale appoint former Sunderland and West Brom coach as manager". BBC Sport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Michael Flynn Resigns". BBC Sport. 1 October 2021.
- ^ "James Rowberry: Cardiff City coach is named Newport County manager". BBC Sport. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- ^ "Chris Beech: Carlisle United head coach departs after poor run of form". BBC Sport. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "CLUB: New manager appointed". Carlisle United. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Club News Club statement". Scunthorpe United. 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ "Keith Hill appointed as the Iron's new first team manager". Scunthorpe United. 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Dave Challinor: Hartlepool United boss leaves role for Stockport County opportunity". BBC Sport. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Graeme Lee appointed". www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk. 1 December 2021.
- ^ "Managerial Change". Stevenage FC. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Paul Tisdale: Stevenage appoint former Exeter City and MK Dons boss". BBC Sport. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Keith Curle: Oldham Athletic boss leaves club eight months after appointment". BBC Sport. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Club Statement". Colchester United FC. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Club Statement - John Sheridan". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk. 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Matt Taylor: Walsall sack head coach following seven successive league defeats". BBC Sport. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Michael Flynn: Walsall appoint former Newport County boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "Derek Adams: Bradford City part company with manager after eight months in charge". BBC Sport. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ^ "MARK HUGHES UNVEILED AS NEW CITY MANAGER". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Club statement: Kenny Jackett". www.leytonorient.com. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Richie Wellens appointed as Head Coach". www.leytonorient.com. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "CLUB STATEMENT: 23 February 2022". www.carlisleunited.co.uk. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Paul Simpson: Carlisle United reappoint former boss after Keith Millen exit". BBC Sport. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Managerial Change". Stevenage FC. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ^ "Club Statement: Mark Cooper". www.barrowafc.com. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Phil Brown Appointed As Barrow Manager". www.barrowafc.com. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Club statement - Graeme Lee". www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ a b "John Yems: Crawley Town part company with manager in wake of racism claims". BBC Sport. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ a b "CLUB STATEMENT - JOHN YEMS". Crawley Town Football Club. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "Bradford City 4–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Forest Green Rovers 6–3 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Leyton Orient 5-0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ "Northampton Town 3-0 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Newport County 5–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Swindon Town 5-2 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Harrogate Town 3–0 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Salford City 5–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Rochdale 3–4 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Sky Bet EFL August Manager and Player of the Month winners". EFL. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
- ^ "Scott Parker and Ben Brereton Diaz win Sky Bet Championship September awards". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ "Introducing October's Player and Manager of the Month winners!". www.efl.com. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month: November winners!". www.efl.com. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Your Sky Bet Manager and Player of the Month December winners!". EFL. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
- ^ "January's Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month winners!". www.efl.com. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ "Your Sky Bet EFL February Manager and Player of the Month winners!". www.efl.com. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "March's Sky Bet EFL Manager and Player of the Month winners". www.efl.com. 8 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Aleksandar Mitrovic named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". www.efl.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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