What a start that was to 2026 - 24 matches, 56 goals and a fair bit of movement in the League One and Two tables.

The new year is only just getting started, too, as we'll be back in no fewer than three days for more EFL action with games across the third and fourth tiers.

Make sure you join us then!

• The only unbeaten home side in the EFL Bromley stay top having beaten Newport 2-1
• Swindon are two points off the top, and beat Gillingham 2-0, Ryan Tafazolli the scorer.
• Crewe Alexander won 4-1 at home to Cheltenham, Josh March with two of the goals.
• Joe Kizzi also notched two as Barnet beat Crawley 2-1.
• Salford took the lead twice up at Barrow, also winning 2-1.
• Chesterfield drew 1-1 at Oldham though a late red card for Kyle McFadzean not helping the Spireites' plight.
• Tranmere scored two late goals to beat Harrogate 2-0
• Accrington's Shaun Whalley did similarly at Notts County who are now bottom of the play-off positions. 0-1
• Fleetwood lost two points late at home to Grimsby, Jaze Kabia the scorer, 0-1.
• Colchester won 1-0 v MK Dons

What a roll Bromley are on. A sixth straight win today as they saw off struggling Newport with a 2-1 victory.

It means the Ravens remain top of League Two and two points clear of Swindon, who also won against Gillingham.

Salford City closed the gap to Walsall in the automatic promotion spots with a win at Barrow, while the Saddlers lost at Cambridge who move up to fifth.

Bristol Rovers ended their 13-game winless run with a 3-0 victory at Shrewsbury to move four points clear of danger.

Harrogate's 2-0 home defeat to Tranmere means they remain rooted to the foot of the table.

• Leaders Cardiff are held to a 1-1 draw by Wycombe as are second-placed Lincoln against Huddersfield.
• Bradford suffer a 3-0 defeat at Mansfield who make it three wins on the spin.
• Stockport are held to a goalless draw at Northampton while Bolton draw 1-1 at Doncaster with Grant McCann's side ending a run of five defeats on the bounce.
• Plymouth come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Stevenage.
• It wasn't to be a happy birthday for Luton boss Jack Wilshere who saw his side fall to a 1-0 loss at Exeter.
• Reading are undefeated in the past four games now after their 2-0 win over Burton while Peterborough go six without defeat after a 2-0 win at Rotherham.
• Wigan and Barnsley finished 1-1 with the Tykes ending the game down to 10-men after Luca Connell's red card.
• And what a start to 2026 for bottom side Port Vale who hammered 10-man Blackpool 5-1. The Valiants end a drought of no wins in their past 12 games.

Cardiff were held to a draw by Wycombe, but Lincoln were unable to capitalise in their draw with Huddersfield, while Bradford lost at Mansfield and Stockport and Bolton also drew.

The Bluebirds remain three points clear of the Imps at the top, who gain a point on the third-placed Bantams.

Exeter were the big winners of the day in the bottom half, moving up five places from 20th to 15th thanks to a second straight win, beating Jack Wilshere's Luton side 1-0.

Mark Hone
Former Lincoln City defender on BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Both managers said coming into the game how hard it would be, and it was.

I think Lincoln had some good chances and should have been ahead at the break, but Huddersfield were better in the second half.

A point is probably the fair result overall.

Stuart: Come on the Gas... great way to start 2026. Steve Evans effect starting to show perhaps. Congrats from a Palace fan.

Big result for Bristol Rovers today - they ended a winless run that stretched back to 27 September with that 3-0 victory against Shrewsbury.

Day one of 2026 in League One and Two is officially over.

Let's have a look at the headlines from that mammoth 24 matches across the third and fourth tiers and see where it leaves us.

Keith Hill
Former Bolton and Barnsley boss on BBC Radio Manchester

In the big picture the point away from home is not good enough, but given the context of the performance it is.

I think Bolton tried something new today and it has not quite worked in the end.

Mark Hone
Former Lincoln City defender on BBC Radio Lincolnshire

A point really is not the end of the world here for Lincoln, especially given how the other results have gone.

The whole side really contributed, not a poor performance from any of the lads today.

It was two good sides who are going to be up there going at it.

Points shared at the Eco-Power Stadium as Kyle Dempsey cancels out Glenn Middleton's opener for Doncaster.

This result ends Doncaster's run of five defeats in a row while play-off hopefuls Bolton will see this as points dropped against a struggling Doncaster side.

A big win for Cambridge United who extend their impressive unbeaten run to 10 games and climb into the play-off places.

Ben Knight the hero with a double for the U's, including an excellent lobbed effort for his second goal.

It's a second straight defeat for Walsall who slip five points behind League Two leaders Bromley, though they still remain in the third automatic promotion spot, albeit only ahead of Salford on goal difference.

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

This game is rather fading out now.

The Aaron Pressley missed penalty has really summed up the day for Walsall.

I mentioned pre-match what a struggle 2025 was for Gasheads, and the past 13 games being particularly bad, with just one point picked up in that period.

Well this win is incredibly their first league win since 27 September and of course their biggest win of the season.

They did dominate possession, but John Marquis had two missed chances against his former side which Michael Appleton's side will particularly rue.

Boos from home supporters on the final whistle.

Then the fatigued Shrewsbury side let Rovers and Fabrizio Cavegn particularly run them ragged, earning a first ever English Football League hat-trick, that's now 11 league goals for the Swiss striker.

Time has all but run out for Walsall here. Into the final two minutes of the seven added.

We're into four minutes of added time.

Will someone find a winner?

Keith Hill
Former Bolton and Barnsley boss on BBC Radio Manchester

Bolton have had a little bit of the momentum this half, especially after the equaliser, but it looks like they might have to settle for a point.

Into seven minutes of added time. That Jake Eastwood penalty save may well have spared Cambridge a tense finale.

An entertaining game ends all square.

Lincoln extend their unbeaten run to seven games (W5, D2) and remain in the top two.

It's now six without defeat for Huddersfield (W3, D3) who are still in the play-off hunt.