Matchday 2 – a chance for 12 League Two clubs to make a good impression in front of the home faithful. The other half will be on their travels, hoping for a good start away and making sure that journey home doesn’t seem quite so long. Here’s a look ahead…
Ups and downs
For Milton Keynes Dons and Bury, the 2017/18 campaign was nothing short of a disaster, both relegated out of League One and therefore now playing their football in the fourth tier.
However, there are positives, and that is that both sides got off to a winning start over the first weekend. Bury had to remain very patient, but a stoppage-time winner from Gold Omotayo finally ended a valiant effort from nine-man Yeovil Town.
As for MK Dons, they did the damage early on. Two first-half goals saw off another of the relegated clubs, Oldham Athletic, and gave new boss Paul Tisdale the ideal start in his new role. Now for his first test at Stadium MK…
Doughty drama
Michael Doughty is top of the EFL goalscoring charts, and while it may not be for long, the Swindon Town midfielder is sure to treasure the memories of the 2018/19 season opener forever.
Two penalties deep into stoppage time earned him a hat-trick and three precious points for the Robins in a thriller at Macclesfield Town, but his side are up against a resilient outfit in Lincoln City this time around.
The Imps won the Checkatrade Trophy and reached the Play-Offs last term, and made a solid start to 2018/19 with three points at Northampton Town. Danny Cowley’s men showed their resilience in the first half, before Matt Green settled things after the break.
Around the Grounds
Crewe Alexandra scored six of the best on the opening day, and they go to Newport County looking for more of the same. The Exiles suffered a 3-0 reverse at Mansfield Town in their first game, and David Flitcroft’s Stags go to Yeovil Town in a bid to extend their winning start.
New boys Macclesfield Town and Tranmere Rovers have home EFL fixtures for the first time since 2012 and 2015 respectively. The Silkmen host Grimsby Town, who lost 4-1 in their home opener, while Rovers welcome Cheltenham Town to Prenton Park.
Forest Green Rovers are second after cruising past the Mariners, and they will be aiming to inflict further misery on recently relegated Oldham. Port Vale and Exeter City also impressed on the opening day; Vale go to Colchester United and the Grecians visit Morecambe, who will be hoping for a better defensive display than the one at Crewe last time out.
Elsewhere, Crawley Town host Stevenage after winning their opening game, while Cambridge United versus Notts County and Carlisle United versus Northampton Town feature teams looking for a first three-point haul of 2018/19.
Saturday 11 August 2018
Cambridge United v Notts County
Carlisle United v Northampton Town
Colchester United v Port Vale
Crawley Town v Stevenage
Forest Green Rovers v Oldham Athletic
Lincoln City v Swindon Town
Macclesfield Town v Grimsby Town
Milton Keynes Dons v Bury
Morecambe v Exeter City
Newport County v Crewe Alexandra
Tranmere Rovers v Cheltenham Town
Yeovil Town v Mansfield Town