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 → |
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]
To League Two[edit]Promoted from National League Relegated from League One
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From League Two[edit]Promoted to League One Relegated to National League
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Team | 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 |
Pos | 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 |
Semi-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 |
---|---|---|
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Report |
|
Second leg
Mansfield Town won 3–1 on aggregate.
Port Vale won 2-2 on aggregate, 6-5 on penalties.
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 |
Player | 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] |
4 Player scored 4 goals
Month | 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] |
Award | 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 |