Late Drama and Statement Wins as Promotion Race Heats Up - EFL League One Round 40 In Review: Saturday's Matches As They Happened

Late Drama and Statement Wins as Promotion Race Heats Up - EFL League One Round 40 In Review: Saturday's Matches As They Happened

While the top two leagues are away this weekend, we still have plenty of League One action to look into as we reach the business end of the season. This week we saw a lot of teams have shock results and teams drop away from their goals.

There were 5 matches this weekend and in those 5 matches we saw 11 goals.

Hamilton Leaves It Late as Blackpool Snatch It

Blackpool 1-0 Burton Albion

This was one of those games that looked like it was heading for a dull 0-0… until the very end.

Blackpool were the better side overall, but it took them until stoppage time to finally make it count. Nine shots and three big chances missed tells you they had opportunities, they just could not take them when it mattered.

Burton offered almost nothing going forward.

Just one shot all game, which did hit the target, but they barely threatened outside of that. They stayed in the game, defended fairly well and probably thought they had done enough to get a point.

Hamilton popping up in the 91st minute is brutal if you are a Burton fan. After holding on for that long, to lose it right at the end is a tough one to take.

For Blackpool, it is a big three points. Not the prettiest performance, but they kept going and got their reward. In a tight league like this, late winners like that can be massive come the end of the season.

Blackpool’s 90+1 minute winner vs Burton Albion today courtesy of CJ Hamilton 👏 🍊 #utmp #bafc pic.twitter.com/CeHbcUGnxY

— AllAboutLeagueOne (@LeagueOne25) March 28, 2026

Tight One at St James Park

Exeter City 0-0 Leyton Orient

It had moments here and there, but overall it just felt like two sides cancelling each other out. Exeter had slightly more shots with 14, but only managed to test the keeper twice, which says a lot about the quality in the final third.

Leyton Orient had more control of the ball.

Nearly 56% possession and far more accurate passes, they looked the more composed side in build up, but like Exeter, they just could not turn that into anything decisive.

Both teams had one big chance each. Neither took it. That pretty much sums the game up. A lot of effort, not enough end product.

For the table, it is one of those results that does not really help either side. A point on the board, but in a league where wins are so important, both will feel like this was a chance to take a bit more. Exeter will take a strong point as they look to beat the relegation fight.

Leyton Orient fans @ Exeter City today (behind the goal and seated to the left)#LOFC #OneOrient #ecfc pic.twitter.com/M16rgCTxTE

— AllAboutLeagueOne (@LeagueOne25) March 28, 2026

Clinical Reading Put Three Past Wasteful Wigan

Reading 3-0 Wigan Athletic

Wigan had more of the ball, more passes and even more corners, but they did absolutely nothing with it. Just 6 shots and only 1 on target is nowhere near good enough, especially when you are controlling large parts of the game. Reading were ruthless.

13 shots, 5 on target and they made it count. Once they took the lead through Ehibhationham just after the hour, you could feel the game open up and from there they punished Wigan properly.

It is a proper away day performance from Reading. Let Wigan have the ball, stay solid and then be clinical when it matters. That is exactly what they did.

For the table, this is a big win. Three goals, three points and a real boost in momentum. For Wigan, it is frustrating. Plenty of the ball, but no real threat, and that is what has cost them here.

28/03/26

Reading FC 3-0 Wigan Athletic FC

Madejski Stadium (Att: 11,981)

EFL League One#ReadingFC #WAFC pic.twitter.com/gdDZntUyWg

— Bill Fernley ⚽️ (@brf_1871) March 28, 2026

Late Norwood Goal Seals Comfortable Stockport Win

Stockport County 3-0 AFC Wimbledon

For large parts, this was actually a really even game. Both sides had 10 shots, both had 4 on target, and Wimbledon even had the better openings with two big chances missed. On another day, this could have looked very different.

Wimbledon also had more of the ball and more corners. They were in the game, no doubt about it, but they just could not take their chances when it mattered. That is what has cost them here.

Stockport were just more clinical. They took their moments and managed the game better, and then right at the end Norwood puts the gloss on it with a 97th minute goal to make it three.

For the table, this is a strong win. Three goals, three points and momentum building. For Wimbledon, it is frustrating. They were in it, but walk away with nothing.

20 goals for the big man this season 🫡#StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/0yfx05JFsD

— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) March 28, 2026

Wycombe Run Riot to Boost Play-off Charge

Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 Port Vale

This was a proper statement win.

From start to finish, Wycombe were the better side and the scoreline reflects it. 21 shots, 9 on target and constant pressure, Port Vale just could not live with them. Woodrow got things going in the first half and from there it always felt like more was coming.

Even at 1-0, Wycombe were creating chances and pushing forward, and once the second went in through Taylor, the game was done. The late goals from Onyedinma and Quitirna just put the icing on it.

Port Vale offered very little. Just 2 shots on target and only 1 corner all game, they never really looked like getting back into it. They were second best in pretty much every area.

For the table, this is massive. A four goal win not only gives Wycombe three points but a big boost in confidence and goal difference. At this stage of the season, results like this can be huge.

Wycombe Wanderers’s 4th goal vs Port Vale courtesy of Junior Quitirna 👏 #Chairboys #pvfc pic.twitter.com/DQk54AztTK

— AllAboutLeagueOne (@LeagueOne25) March 28, 2026