2021–22 EFL League One
# 2021–22 EFL League One

The 2021–22 EFL League One (referred to as the Sky Bet League One for sponsorship reasons) was the 18th season of the Football League One under its current title and the 30th season under its current league division format.

## Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2020–21 season:

### To League One

Promoted from League Two

* Cheltenham Town
* Cambridge United
* Bolton Wanderers
* Morecambe

Relegated from the Championship

* Wycombe Wanderers
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday

### From League One

Promoted to the Championship

* Hull City
* Peterborough United
* Blackpool

Relegated to League Two

* Rochdale
* Northampton Town
* Swindon Town
* Bristol Rovers

## Stadiums

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | Accrington | Crown Ground | 5,057 |
| AFC Wimbledon | London (Wimbledon) | Plough Lane | 9,300 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Horwich | University of Bolton Stadium | 28,723 |
| Burton Albion | Burton | Pirelli Stadium | 6,912 |
| Cambridge United | Cambridge | Abbey Stadium | 8,127 |
| Charlton Athletic | London (Charlton) | The Valley | 27,111 |
| Cheltenham Town | Cheltenham | Whaddon Road | 7,066 |
| Crewe Alexandra | Crewe | Gresty Road | 10,180 |
| Doncaster Rovers | Doncaster | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 |
| Fleetwood Town | Fleetwood | Highbury Stadium | 5,327 |
| Gillingham | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium | 11,582 |
| Ipswich Town | Ipswich | Portman Road | 30,311 |
| Lincoln City | Lincoln | Sincil Bank | 10,120 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | Milton Keynes | Stadium MK | 30,500 |
| Morecambe | Morecambe | Globe Arena | 6,476 |
| Oxford United | Oxford | Kassam Stadium | 12,500 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Plymouth | Home Park | 18,600 |
| Portsmouth | Portsmouth | Fratton Park | 19,669 |
| Rotherham United | Rotherham | New York Stadium | 12,021 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Sheffield | Hillsborough Stadium | 39,732 |
| Shrewsbury Town | Shrewsbury | New Meadow | 9,875 |
| Sunderland | Sunderland | Stadium of Light | 49,000 |
| Wigan Athletic | Wigan | DW Stadium | 25,133 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | High Wycombe | Adams Park | 9,448 |

## Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | John Coleman | Séamus Conneely | Adidas | Wham |
| AFC Wimbledon | Mark Bowen | Alex Woodyard | Puma | Sports Interactive |
| Bolton Wanderers | Ian Evatt | Ricardo Santos | Macron | Home Bargains |
| Burton Albion | Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | John Brayford | TAG | Prestec UK Ltd |
| Cambridge United | Mark Bonner | Greg Taylor | Hummel | Mick George |
| Charlton Athletic | Johnnie Jackson | Jason Pearce | Hummel | KW Holdings (Home & Third) Walker Mower (Away) |
| Cheltenham Town | Michael Duff | Will Boyle | Erreà | Mira Showers |
| Crewe Alexandra | Alex Morris | Luke Murphy | FBT | Mornflake |
| Doncaster Rovers | Gary McSheffrey | Tom Anderson | Elite Pro Sports | LNER |
| Fleetwood Town | Stephen Crainey | Jordan Rossiter | Hummel | BES Utilities |
| Gillingham | Neil Harris | Stuart O'Keefe | Macron | MEMS Power Generation |
| Ipswich Town | Kieran McKenna | Sam Morsy | Adidas | Ed Sheeran |
| Lincoln City | Michael Appleton | Liam Bridcutt | Erreà | Virgin Wines (Home) Light Source (Home) Buildbase (Home) University of Lincoln (Home) Branston Ltd (Home) SRP Hire (Away) |
| Milton Keynes Dons | Liam Manning | Dean Lewington | Erreà | Suzuki |
| Morecambe | Derek Adams | Anthony O'Connor | Joma | Mazuma |
| Oxford United | Karl Robinson | John Mousinho | Puma | EB Charging |
| Plymouth Argyle | Steven Schumacher | Joe Edwards | Puma | Ginsters |
| Portsmouth | Danny Cowley | Clark Robertson | Nike | University of Portsmouth |
| Rotherham United | Paul Warne | Richard Wood | Puma | IPM Group (home) Intelipod (away and third) |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Darren Moore | Barry Bannan | Macron | Chansiri (home) Elev8 (away and third) |
| Shrewsbury Town | Steve Cotterill | Ethan Ebanks-Landell | Umbro | Tuffins Supermarkets (Home) Shropshire Homes (Away) |
| Sunderland | Alex Neil | Corry Evans | Nike | Great Annual Savings Group |
| Wigan Athletic | Leam Richardson | Tendayi Darikwa | Puma | EPIC.gi |
| Wycombe Wanderers | Gareth Ainsworth | Joe Jacobson | O'Neills | Dreams (home and away) Cherry Red Records (third) |

## Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Doncaster Rovers | Andy Butler | End of interim spell | 17 May 2021 | Pre-season | Richie Wellens | 17 May 2021 |
| Morecambe | Derek Adams | Resigned | 3 June 2021 | Pre-season | Stephen Robinson | 7 June 2021 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | Russell Martin | Signed by Swansea City | 1 August 2021 | Pre-season | Liam Manning | 13 August 2021 |
| Charlton Athletic | Nigel Adkins | Sacked | 21 October 2021 | 22nd | Johnnie Jackson | 17 December 2021 |
| Fleetwood Town | Simon Grayson | Sacked | 24 November 2021 | 22nd | Stephen Crainey | 21 December 2021 |
| Doncaster Rovers | Richie Wellens | Sacked | 2 December 2021 | 23rd | Gary McSheffrey | 29 December 2021 |
| Ipswich Town | Paul Cook | Sacked | 4 December 2021 | 11th | Kieran McKenna | 16 December 2021 |
| Plymouth Argyle | Ryan Lowe | Signed by Preston North End | 7 December 2021 | 4th | Steven Schumacher | 7 December 2021 |
| Gillingham | Steve Evans | Mutual consent | 9 January 2022 | 22nd | Neil Harris | 31 January 2022 |
| Sunderland | Lee Johnson | Sacked | 30 January 2022 | 3rd | Alex Neil | 11 February 2022 |
| Morecambe | Stephen Robinson | Signed by St Mirren | 22 February 2022 | 21st | Derek Adams | 24 February 2022 |
| AFC Wimbledon | Mark Robinson | Mutual consent | 28 March 2022 | 21st | Mark Bowen | 30 March 2022 |
| Crewe Alexandra | David Artell | Sacked | 11 April 2022 | 24th | Alex Morris | 11 April 2022 |

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Wigan Athletic (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 82 | 44 | +38 | 92 | Promotion to EFL Championship |
| 2 | Rotherham United (P) | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 33 | +37 | 90 | Promotion to EFL Championship |
| 3 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 44 | +34 | 89 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 78 | 50 | +28 | 85 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 5 | Sunderland (O, P) | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 79 | 53 | +26 | 84 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 75 | 51 | +24 | 83 | Qualification for League One play-offs |
| 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 68 | 48 | +20 | 80 | |
| 8 | Oxford United | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 82 | 59 | +23 | 76 | |
| 9 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 74 | 57 | +17 | 73 | |
| 10 | Portsmouth | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 68 | 51 | +17 | 73 | |
| 11 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 70 | |
| 12 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 80 | −19 | 61 | |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 55 | 59 | −4 | 59 | |
| 14 | Cambridge United | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 74 | −18 | 58 | |
| 15 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 66 | 80 | −14 | 56 | |
| 16 | Burton Albion | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 53 | |
| 17 | Lincoln City | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 52 | |
| 18 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 47 | 51 | −4 | 50 | |
| 19 | Morecambe | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 57 | 88 | −31 | 42 | |
| 20 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 62 | 82 | −20 | 40 | |
| 21 | Gillingham (R) | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 35 | 69 | −34 | 40 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 22 | Doncaster Rovers (R) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 37 | 82 | −45 | 38 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 23 | AFC Wimbledon (R) | 46 | 6 | 19 | 21 | 49 | 75 | −26 | 37 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 24 | Crewe Alexandra (R) | 46 | 7 | 8 | 31 | 37 | 83 | −46 | 29 | Relegation to EFL League Two |

## Play-offs

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | Milton Keynes Dons | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | |
| 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0 |
| | | | | | 5 | Sunderland | 2 |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Sunderland | 2 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |

First leg

Second leg

Wycombe Wanderers won 2–1 on aggregate.

Sunderland won 2–1 on aggregate.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | WIM | BOL | BRT | CAM | CHA | CHE | CRE | DON | FLE | GIL | IPS | LIN | MKD | MOR | OXF | PLY | POR | ROT | SHW | SHR | SUN | WIG | WYC |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Accrington Stanley | — | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 |
| AFC Wimbledon | 3–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 6–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 |
| Burton Albion | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 |
| Cambridge United | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Cheltenham Town | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Fleetwood Town | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | — | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 |
| Gillingham | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 2–7 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Ipswich Town | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 6–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Lincoln City | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Morecambe | 3–3 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 |
| Oxford United | 5–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 |
| Portsmouth | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 |
| Rotherham United | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 |
| Sunderland | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 5–5 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — |

## Season statistics

    As of 30 April 2022

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Will Keane | Wigan Athletic | 26 |
| 2 | Ross Stewart | Sunderland | 24 |
| 3 | Alfie May | Cheltenham Town | 23 |
| 3 | Cole Stockton | Morecambe | 23 |
| 5 | Matty Taylor | Oxford United | 20 |
| 5 | Scott Twine | Milton Keynes Dons | 20 |
| 7 | Michael Smith | Rotherham United | 19 |
| 8 | Sam Vokes | Wycombe Wanderers | 16 |
| 8 | Lee Gregory | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 |
| 8 | Ryan Hardie | Plymouth Argyle | 16 |

* Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2022

### Top assists

| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sean McConville | Accrington Stanley | 17 |
| 2 | Scott Twine | Milton Keynes Dons | 13 |
| 3 | Barry Bannan | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 |
| 3 | Max Power | Wigan Athletic | 12 |
| 5 | Gavin Whyte | Oxford United | 10 |
| 6 | Ronan Curtis | Portsmouth | 9 |
| 7 | Paddy Lane | Fleetwood Town | 8 |
| 7 | Adam Phillips | Morecambe | 8 |
| 9 | Luke McCormick | AFC Wimbledon | 7 |
| 9 | Albie Morgan | Charlton Athletic | 7 |
| 9 | Danny Andrew | Fleetwood Town | 7 |
| 9 | Anthony Scully | Lincoln City | 7 |
| 9 | Jordan Garrick | Plymouth Argyle | 7 |
| 9 | Daniel Barlaser | Rotherham United | 7 |
| 9 | Ben Wiles | Rotherham United | 7 |
| 9 | Marvin Johnson | Sheffield Wednesday | 7 |
| 9 | Luke Leahy | Shrewsbury Town | 7 |
| 9 | Dan Neil | Sunderland | 7 |
| 9 | Alex Pritchard | Sunderland | 7 |
| 9 | Will Keane | Wigan Athletic | 7 |
| 9 | Callum Lang | Wigan Athletic | 7 |
| 9 | James McClean | Wigan Athletic | 7 |
| 9 | Jordan Obita | Wycombe Wanderers | 7 |
| 9 | Sam Vokes | Wycombe Wanderers | 7 |

* Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2022

## Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| August | Lee Johnson | Sunderland | Cole Stockton | Morecambe |
| September | Liam Manning | Milton Keynes Dons | Cole Stockton | Morecambe |
| October | Ryan Lowe | Plymouth Argyle | Michael Smith | Rotherham United |
| November | Danny Cowley | Portsmouth | Scott Twine | Milton Keynes Dons |
| December | Lee Johnson | Sunderland | Daniel Barlaser | Rotherham United |
| January | Liam Manning | Milton Keynes Dons | Michael Smith | Rotherham United |
| February | Paul Warne | Rotherham United | Alfie May | Cheltenham Town |
| March | Steven Schumacher | Plymouth Argyle | Barry Bannan | Sheffield Wednesday |
