EFL League Two PREVIEW 15 Aug 2026: League Two Kicks Off: Rochdale And York Back In The EFL

League Two's new season begins with two clubs making immediate returns to the Football League. Rochdale, who beat Boreham Wood on penalties in May's National League play-off final after finishing second to York City, travel to Newport County for a 12:30 kick-off at Rodney Parade — and despite the Dale's promotion pedigree, our model actually favours the home side at 45%. Newport's build-up has been eventful: they played Serie A side Roma in their final pre-season friendly, then were pegged back by AFC Wimbledon in the 97th minute last weekend before losing on penalties in the Carabao Cup. Rochdale's own cup run saw them knock Tranmere out in the preliminary round before losing 2-0 to Bradford City in the first round, and they go into the weekend without Will Jenkins for the season after an ACL tear, with Sam Beckworth and Laurence Maguire back in training but not yet available.

York City's return to the Football League after a decade away comes with a change in the dugout: Stuart Maynard has left following last season's National League title win, replaced by former Crawley Town boss Scott Lindsey, who takes charge for the visit of Bristol Rovers to the York Community Stadium. York's promotion could hardly have been more dramatic, sealed by Josh Stones's 103rd-minute equaliser against Rochdale on 25 April 2026, in a title race that went to the wire between the two clubs who now both start life back in League Two. Bristol Rovers arrive under Steve Evans after turning around a difficult campaign with eight wins from their final nine matches, though a home Carabao Cup defeat to Peterborough United was the more recent form line. Our model makes York the biggest underdogs of the round at just 42%.

Chesterfield host Fleetwood Town in a repeat of a Carabao Cup first-round tie the two sides played at Highbury Stadium only a week earlier. Paul Cook's Spireites reached the League Two play-off semi-finals last season before losing to Notts County, and have brought in ten new faces over the summer including Alfie Pond and Freddie Ladapo. Fleetwood, who finished 15th last season, have added Andy Cannon — part of Wrexham's run of three successive promotions before a season at Burton Albion — and have named Ched Evans as captain for the new campaign. Our model gives Chesterfield a 45% chance at the SMH Group Stadium.

There are three new permanent managers in the away dugouts this weekend. Darrell Clarke takes charge of Tranmere Rovers for the first time as they host Shrewsbury Town at Prenton Park (Tranmere favoured at 44%), while Lee Grant, formerly of Huddersfield, has been handed the Walsall job full-time and takes his side to Gillingham (46% for the home side) after Walsall missed out on the play-offs entirely last season. At Blundell Park, Grimsby host Exeter City, who go into the season with Matt Taylor back in the manager's chair on a full-time basis for a second spell; our model favours Grimsby at 44%.

Rotherham United, playing in the fourth tier for the first time since 2012-13 after relegation from League One, travel to Cheltenham Town (46% Cheltenham) under new boss Steve Cotterill. Northampton Town, relegated bottom of League One last season, host Swindon Town at Sixfields (45% Northampton) — Swindon missed the League Two play-offs themselves last term despite 75 points, with Chesterfield sixth on 79 and Grimsby seventh on 78. Elsewhere, Oldham host newly-relegated Port Vale at Boundary Park (45% Oldham), Accrington Stanley take on Colchester United at the Wham Stadium (45% Accrington), Barnet — eighth on 76 points last season, with Grimsby taking the last play-off place on 78 — host Salford City, beaten by Notts County in the play-off final, at the Hive (47% Barnet), and Crawley Town welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Broadfield Stadium (45% Crawley) to complete the opening round of fixtures.