EFL League One PREVIEW 22 Aug 2026: League One Weekend: Leicester Make Their Third-Tier Bow

The headline fixture of the second round sees Leicester City host Burton Albion at the King Power Stadium in the Foxes' first home League One match since their relegation from the Championship. Leicester finished 23rd in the Championship in 2025/26, a six-point deduction for a profitability and sustainability breach compounding a poor campaign, and they drop into the third tier alongside Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday. Both sides opened the season with draws, leaving Leicester and Burton Albion level on a point apiece, and our model gives the home side just a 40% chance of victory — a modest figure for a club of Leicester's recent Premier League and European pedigree, and a reflection of how unfamiliar this level now is for them.

Doncaster host Barnsley at the Eco-Power Stadium in a South Yorkshire meeting between two sides who both lost their opening fixtures and sit goalless in the win column. Doncaster are back for a second consecutive season in League One after winning the League Two title in 2024/25, having finished 14th on their return last term, while Barnsley finished 15th under Conor Hourihane in a season the club themselves called flat. Our model has Doncaster as 41% favourites on home turf.

Luton Town, fresh from lifting the EFL Trophy at Wembley last season to soften the disappointment of missing the play-offs in seventh, host Notts County at Kenilworth Road. Luton opened with a win and sit fourth, while Notts County drew their first match after arriving in the third tier for the first time since 2014/15, a second promotion in four years. Our model favours Luton at 48%, the joint-highest home probability of the round.

AFC Wimbledon host Reading at Plough Lane, our model giving the Dons just a 38% chance of victory. Both clubs lost their opening matches — Wimbledon by the heaviest defeat of any side in the division so far, leaving them bottom on goal difference, and Reading by a single goal. Wimbledon are back in League One after finishing 19th last season, while Reading, now under the ownership of Redwood Holdings following last year's takeover, finished 12th.

Bromley's first home League One fixture in their history brings Cambridge United to Hayes Lane, with both clubs sitting level on three points after opening-day wins. Bromley reach this level for the first time after winning the League Two title in 2025/26 with 87 points. Our model gives the home side a 41% chance of taking maximum points again.

MK Dons host Huddersfield Town at Stadium MK, with the visitors installed as favourites at 40% despite playing away from home. MK Dons are back in League One after three seasons in League Two, promoted last term in second place, and drew their opener. Huddersfield, beginning a third consecutive season at this level, won their first match to sit second in the table on goal difference.

Peterborough United, who finished 18th last season after Darren Ferguson's autumn dismissal and Luke Williams's appointment, host Mansfield Town at the Weston Homes Stadium. Peterborough lost their opening fixture and sit with a goal difference of minus two, while Mansfield won theirs after a tenth-placed finish last season built on seventeen draws. Our model makes Mansfield the away favourites at 44%.

Stevenage host Oxford United at the Lamex Stadium, both sides having drawn their opening matches. Stevenage reached the play-offs last season before losing to Stockport County in the semi-final, while Oxford United begin their first League One campaign since being relegated from the Championship. Our model favours the home side at 40%.

Stockport County, beaten by Bolton Wanderers in last season's play-off final at Wembley, host Blackpool at Edgeley Park in good form after an opening win that leaves them third in the table. Blackpool drew their first match following a 13th-placed finish last season under Ian Evatt. Our model gives Stockport a 48% chance of victory, level with Luton for the highest home probability of the round.

Wigan Athletic host Leyton Orient at the Brick Community Stadium in a meeting of two sides who both lost their opening fixtures. Wigan finished 16th last season under Gary Caldwell, who replaced Ryan Lowe in February, while Leyton Orient finished 20th last term, a stark comedown after losing the 2024/25 play-off final to Charlton Athletic at Wembley. Our model favours Wigan at 42%.

Wycombe Wanderers, who drew their opening match, host Plymouth Argyle at Adams Park. Plymouth lost their first fixture of the season after missing the play-offs by two points in 2025/26. Our model gives Wycombe a 46% chance of victory.