EFL League One REVIEW 30 Aug 2026: Mansfield end Luton's unbeaten start, and Wimbledon get off the mark

Two of League One's Sunday fixtures, and both turned on a single stretch of the game. Mansfield Town beat Luton Town 5-2 at Field Mill, a result that ended Luton's unbeaten start to the season and was effectively settled inside an hour. Nathan Moriah-Welsh clipped in the opener on 17 minutes after Michael Smith nodded a high ball down and Jon Russell played him through, then doubled it on 28 with a thunderous effort from just inside the box. Louis Reed made it three on the stroke of half-time, first-time from a Moriah-Welsh cross.

The second half removed any doubt. Russell scored twice, two minutes after the restart when Luton failed to clear their lines, and again on 56 by picking out the top corner from another Smith knockdown. Nahki Wells pulled two back for Luton late on, a penalty and then a stoppage-time strike from distance, but they were consolations. Jack Wilshere apologised to the Luton supporters afterwards.

At Plough Lane, AFC Wimbledon beat Wigan Athletic 1-0 with a goal that arrived with two minutes left. Myles Hippolyte was played through by Donnell McNeilly and poked the ball past goalkeeper Joe Walsh for the winner, and for Wimbledon's first goal and first win of the season. It could have been different: Wimbledon had a strong penalty appeal waved away by referee Andrew Humphries when Jayden Stockley went down claiming he had been pulled back, and Wigan had chances of their own, Jensen Weir striking the crossbar and Sonny Perkins firing over from close range with the goal at his mercy.