EFL League Two REVIEW 22 Aug 2026: Bristol Rovers Edge Eight-Goal Thriller as Barnet Go Three From Three

Bristol Rovers were 5-3 winners over Newport in the wildest game of the day, coming from behind and then having to survive a Newport rally in stoppage time. H. Biggins put Newport ahead inside the first minute, but B. Purrington equalised right on half-time and F. Cavegn put Rovers in front three minutes into the second half. An own goal by Newport's L. Jenkins made it 3-1 before S. Gwengwe pulled one back and B. Kamwa restored a two-goal cushion. Newport were not finished: C. Jarvis made it 4-3 in the 90th minute, but Cavegn completed his brace moments later to settle it at 5-3. Our model had favoured Bristol Rovers at 53% and got the win right.

Colchester's 2-1 win over Oldham was just as eventful in its own way. K. Appiah-Forson gave Oldham a 20th-minute lead, but Oldham were reduced to ten men when G. Scott-Morriss was sent off just before the break. Colchester needed until the 63rd minute to level, through H. Anderson, and even then were denied a lead when J. Payne missed a penalty in the 75th minute. The winner arrived in stoppage time regardless, an own goal off Oldham's L. Temple that counted for Colchester.

Of the three sides who had shared top spot with maximum points before kick-off, only two kept their unbeaten records going. Barnet won 3-1 at Shrewsbury, J. Reeves and a late double from C. Lakin and T. Knowles either side of a J. Davison equaliser doing the damage, and it leaves Shrewsbury still winless after three games at the bottom of the table. Our model gave Barnet 54% for that one. Crewe also made it three wins out of three, J. March's 54th-minute goal enough to beat Northampton, who suffer their first defeat since returning to League Two; the model had favoured Crewe at 58%.

Exeter beat Accrington 2-0 at St James Park, J. Fitzwater scoring inside two minutes before an own goal from Accrington's S. Conneely made it 2-0 by the quarter-hour mark, a result our model had called correctly at 57% for the home side. Swindon beat Cheltenham 2-1, A. Drinan and O. Clarke putting the game beyond doubt before R. Broom's late reply for the visitors, the model favouring Swindon at 49%. Rochdale, back in League Two after last season's National League title run, lost again, beaten 1-2 at home by Crawley despite E. Ebanks-Landell's equaliser cancelling out O. Aderoju's opener before L. Watson scored the winner from the penalty spot; the model had given Crawley just 39% but they took all three points regardless.

Elsewhere, Salford City lost 0-1 at home to Chesterfield, L. Bonis scoring inside two minutes and leaving Salford still without a win. Walsall and Grimsby played out a goalless draw, as did Fleetwood Town and Gillingham and, in Staffordshire, Port Vale and Tranmere, the last of those settled in part by a G. Byers penalty for Vale before T. Ince equalised for Tranmere. Rotherham and York City also drew, 1-1, E. Otoo's opener cancelled out by A. Newby before half-time.