2025/26 EFL League One MW7 Recap: Saturday’s Matches in Review

2025/26 EFL League One MW7 Recap: Saturday’s Matches in Review

The first international break has seen the amount of blockbuster club fixtures take hit around Europe. Even England’s third tier has had four matches postponed due to players on international duty.

On Saturday afternoon, eight matches were played in the EFL League One, and many of these already a lot riding on them with the table starting to take some shape. With 30 goals from these eight matches, there was surplus of entertainment for any fans following the scores.

It was a successful afternoon for the home sides, with six of the eight hosts walking away with the spoils. From Bolton’s clinic against Wimbledon to a six-goal thriller at Home Park, here is Football Park’s matchweek 7 recap of the EFL League One.

Bolton Wanderers 3-0 AFC Wimbledon

Goals: Mason Burstow (29’), Amario Cozier-Duberry (53’), Joel Randall (62’).

This was only victory number two for the highly aspiring Bolton, while Wimbledon now find themselves in a bit of strife after suffering their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

It was the visitors who had the early pressure, but they couldn’t make the most of it, with Marty Stevens’ headed effort kiss the post. Shortly after, Burstow gave the Trotters the lead on the half-hour mark on a rebound from a corner.

The Dons found themselves down to 10 men early in the second half, when Marcus Browne was shown a red card for a clumsy foul on Max Conway. Just three minutes later, things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Cozier-Duberry doubled Bolton’s lead with an excellent curling effort.

Randall put the cherry on top to put an end to Bolton’s 1-1 drawing streak, before Wimbledon’s afternoon was summed up in injury time when Joe Lewis received a second yellow.

Doncaster Rovers 3-1 Bradford City

Goals:Luke Moyneux (6’), Jordan Gibson (22’), Billy Sharp (44’); Will Swan (12’).

A stunning first half performance from Doncaster sends them into second place, joint on points with league leaders Cardiff City. Meanwhile, Bradford missed out on a chance to go top after receiving their first change in the loss column.

Despite Bradford having more of the ball throughout, their failure to capitalise on the pressure came to back them. Molyneux opened the scoring for the hosts after just six minutes with a well-timed run into the box.

It took the Bantams the same amount of time to respond, however, with Swan scoring not the prettiest goal you will see, but it was deserved goal for the visitors as they restored parity. It was a mistake from the Bradford defence that gave away the lead once again however, as Gibson restored the lead for the hosts.

And after withstanding a lot of pressure, Doncaster ended the half in style with ex-Blades forward Sharp showing his class and keeping composed to seal the deal and continuing Donny’s excellent start to the campaign.

The Yorkshire Derby goes the way of @drfc_official 🔴⚪️

...and how about that home form? 👀

Doncaster are now unbeaten across their last 1⃣1⃣ league games at the Eco-Power Stadium 💪 pic.twitter.com/Rpf1gWpDt6

— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) September 6, 2025

Huddersfield Town 3-2 Peterborough United

Goals: Will Alves (60’), Herbie Kane (67’), Joe Taylor (90’+1); Jimmy-Jay Morgan (47’), Cian Hayes (90’+8).

Huddersfield’s excellent final half-hour denies Peterborough their first victory of the season, with the visitors remaining rooted to the foot of the table, with just one point so far.

It was a match which didn’t look like it would see five goals after the first half. However, Chelsea loanee Morgan’s early goal in the second period opened the floodgates to a chaotic next 45 minutes to come.

The Terriers flipped the game on its head within seven minutes with another loanee Alves levelling the tie for the hosts before Kane thumped a terrific deflected 25-yard shot past Alex Bass.

As the game looked like it was coming to an end, the hosts found daylight, with Taylor making up for a previous missed effort, calming slotting the ball home. Peterborough’s Hayes would score a consolation but worries for the Posh continue.

Lincoln City 2-2 Wigan Athletic

Goals: James Collins (31’ pen), (34’); Paul Mullin (10’), Callum Wright (50’).

A Collins first half brace ensures the Imps unbeaten run extended to eight games in all competitions, pushing them to just a point off the play-off places.

The Latics got off to a perfect start just 10 minutes into the piece, with Wrexham loanee showing his class in the league below, bringing down a long ball beautifully before dribbling past the keeper into the empty net.

Imps forward Collins then had a few minutes to remember, as he coolly levelled the match from the spot before being on hand to poke the ball past Wigan shot stopper Sam Tickle. Wright restored parity just after the interval after some smart positioning found him with almost a free header from one yard out.

The match the erupted within the last 22 minutes, with Christian Saydee ruining his otherwise immaculate performance before leaving his team at a disadvantage on the 68th minute. The hosts forward Rob Street joined Saydee shortly after following a high boot challenge leaving both sides to settle for a share of the spoils.

Plymouth Argyle 4-2 Stockport County

Goals: Kyle Wootton (24’ OG), Caleb Watts (39’), Bradley Ibrahim (48’), Laurent Tolaj (75’); Oli Norwood (45’+1 pen), Wootton (90’+5).

Argyle’s season is starting to take a turn, after coming out victorious to win just their second of the league season and making it three wins from their last five in all competitions.

Wootton made the headlines for scoring two at the same end – it was shame for him that it was also one for each team, with his header opening the scoring for the wrong team.

Watts scored arguably goal of the weekend to double their lead at Home Park, with an incredible strike from the edge of the box. Norwood got one back for the visitors on the stroke of half time, converting calmly from 12 yards.

The hosts continued their dominance into the second period, with Ibrahim restoring the two-goal cushion with a strong strike of his own from 18 yards. The Swiss international Tolaj all but sealed three points for the Pilgrims as their continuous chances kept flowing throughout which eventually led to a fourth. Wootton struck at the right end far too late as Plymouth won both halves of football convincingly and they move up to 18th place.

"A brilliant team performance, we manged the game well and I couldn't be prouder of the lads."
Read the verdict of Tom Cleverley on Argyle's 4-2 win against Stockport at Home Park.⬇️ #pafc https://t.co/NXH8l7VyDt

— Chris Errington (@ChrisErrington1) September 6, 2025

Port Vale 2-3 Leyton Orient

Goals: Ryan Croasdale (7’), Devante Cole (52’); Aaron Connolly (13’), Dominic Ballard (44’), Charlie Wellens (90’+5).

Charlie Wellens’ late strike rescued three points for the London outfit, leaving Vale still winless after seven games.

It was the Valiants who got off to an ideal start, with Croasdale’s volley thrashed into the net from Cole’s cross. Orient found their way straight back into the game, however, as Connolly finished off a well-executed counterattack a few moments later.

The O’s took the lead just before the break through Ballard, who kept composed to slot it past Joe Gauci; the Valiants struck back shortly after the interval through Cole, however, with a quick reaction finish equalling the score once again.

The match looked destined for it to end all-square – if not for Wellens, who caught the hosts slacking in the final minutes on another counterattack.

Rotherham United 1-0 Exeter City

Goals: Denzel Hall (39’).

Exeter head back down to the southwest coast empty handed, as Hall’s first half goal is enough to lift Rotherham out of their precarious position around the relegation zone.

The Grecians didn’t go down trying, with the majority of the ball possession. A late goal in added time had the visitors briefly thinking they had scraped a draw, if it wasn’t for the offside flag raised seconds later.

Both sides had their fair share of chances, however, with Crystal Palace loanee Joe Whitworth largely the reason Exeter had something to play for at the death, due to some impressive saves from the 21-year-old.

Hall had fortune turn in his favour shortly before half time, with a cross cleared straight into his path as his volley smashed the back of the net.

Exeter came close in the second half, after Josh Magennis couldn’t quite convert his header on target before eventually putting the ball into the back of the net, only for it to be chalked off for offside.

Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Mansfield Town

Goals: Sam Bell (14’), Cauley Woodrow (52’ pen).

A classy display from the Chairboys earned a deserved first win of the campaign, lifting them out of the bottom four, while the Stags drop into mid-table. It was a successful afternoon for Wycombe at both sides of the pitch – registering not only their first league win of the season, but also their first clean sheet.

There were debuts to remember for Wycombe loanee duo Bell and Woodrow who both scored on their first starts. It was a perfect start to the afternoon for Bell, who brushed off any nerves early on, calmly looping the ball over Mansfield keeper Liam Roberts.

👀| 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇: #BristolCity loanee Sam Bell scores on his Wycombe Wanderers debut vs Mansfield Town today! pic.twitter.com/iuiQjESwPr

— The Robins Zone (@TheRobinsZone) September 6, 2025

The Stags then thought they could have equalised before the break, if it wasn’t for Mikki van Sas’ fingertip stop onto the crossbar to deny Ryan Sweeney’s spectacular headed effort.

The hosts found daylight early in the second period, as Fred Onyedinma got fouled in the penalty area. Luton loanee Woodrow then stepped up to thrash the ball home.