A cakewalk for the top two in League One

[The Lone Gunman]

Although it might not have felt like it at times, the 2025/26 campaign proved to be a cakewalk for the top two teams in League One. Lincoln City ended the season on an incredible 29-game unbeaten run and their title-winning margin of 12 points was the third-highest in the last 20 years. Only four clubs have won this division by ten or more points during that time:

19 pts - Birmingham City (111 pts, 2024/25)
14 pts - Sheffield United (100 pts, 2016/17)
12 pts - Lincoln City (103 pts, 2025/26)
10 pts - Swansea City (92 pts, 2007/08)

Meanwhile, the margin between runners-up Cardiff City and the third-placed side (Stockport County) was comfortably the largest in the last 20 years. The biggest margins between the second and third-placed teams in League One during that time have been:

14 points - Cardiff City (2025/26)
9 points - Blackburn Rovers (2017/18)
8 points - Brentford (2013/14)
7 points - Peterborough United (2020/21)

Lincoln ended up being promoted by a staggering margin of 26 points, which is the highest in the last 20 years. The biggest gaps between the champions and the third-placed teams in League One during that time have been:

26 points - Lincoln City (2025/26)
24 points - Birmingham City (2024/25)
18 points - Sheffield United (2016/17)
17 points - Wolverhampton Wanderers (2013/14)

This season, just 78 points would have been good enough to guarantee automatic promotion. That’s the smallest total since the 2005/06 campaign, when 77 points would have proved enough (Colchester United finished second in 2005/06 with 79 points and Brentford were third with 76 points).

Cardiff City reached 78 points with the 1-1 draw at Peterborough on Easter Monday. The Bluebirds had six games left to play at that stage. Meanwhile, Lincoln moved onto 80 points with their 3-1 victory over Stockport as far back as 14th March. They had nine games left to play when they were effectively promoted.

Last season, Leyton Orient finished sixth with 78 points. Third-placed Stockport’s tally of 77 points this season was no less than 10 points lower than their total last season, when they also finished third behind Birmingham and Wrexham.

As recently as 2022/23, a total of 78 points would only have been good enough to finish eighth in League One (Plymouth finished seventh with 80 points), but this season it would have got you automatically promoted.

City haven’t played at this level since 2003, so it’s difficult to make a firm judgement about the strength of League One right now, but I have believed for many months that, apart from the top two sides, it was a really weak section this time around. Lincoln were the strongest and most organised side by a very wide margin, while Cardiff were comfortably the best footballing team in the division. The rest were not very good. I don’t think it’s much more complicated than that. Of course, that’s just an opinion based on what I’ve been watching since August, but I think some of the stats highlighted above tend to reinforce it.

While yesterday’s game at Mansfield was a dead rubber, the defeat was disappointing as I believe City missed out on the chance to chalk up what would have been a notable club record. I think I’m right in saying the fewest defeats Cardiff have previously suffered in a 46-game campaign is nine (2001/02, 2011/12 and 2012/13). If the Bluebirds had avoided defeat at Field Mill, this season’s number of defeats would have been eight.

[Sven]

Another great read from you, TLG. Thanks for posting!

[Forever Blue]

Thanks Dave, TLG

I love read all the facts and stories you put with them

Very much appreciated

[theclaw]

Some good facts and figures there.At the end of the day it was only ever about getting back up first time of asking.

[cityone]

Yeah Wrexham went up in second place last season with a win on the last game of the season with 88 points, this season 77 points could have been enough with goal difference, as TLG asks/suggests it's a poorer league 1 this season and i agree.

[worcester_ccfc]

Really good post as usual from you.

I have a slight disagreement about the league being poor. I think the top two teams were just a lot better than everyone else, that doesn't necessarily make it a weak league. Although you have backed up your view with stats, to be fair.

But that's all academic now, delighted we got promoted and pleased for Lincoln too.

[Woodruff]

A good read that

[razorboy]

Yeah Wrexham went up in second place last season with a win on the last game of the season with 88 points, this season 77 points could have been enough with goal difference, as TLG asks/suggests it's a poorer league 1 this season and i agree.

Wrexham actually had 92 points last season. We blew s chance to beat that total with a win.

[Richy roofer ccfc]

What a great read , a lot of effort has gone into this . Thanks
I really enjoyed this season and the games , I was very nervous at one point thinking we were going to fluff it , but now it looks with points gap , we went back into gear just when we needed it , and obviously that was when salech came back
Up the BLUEBIRDS

[New Day Rising]

Why walk on a cake ?

[Welshman in CA]

Why walk on a cake ?

Apparently there's people willing to pay to see that on the internets!

Could open up a whole new revenue stream for the club.

[TopCat CCFC]

Well Done to Both -