2008–09 Football League One: Difference between revisions

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The Football League 2008–09 (entitled Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons), will be the seventeenth season under its current league division format. It will begin in August 2008 and conclude in May 2009, with the promotion play-off finals.

The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The second divisions of these is League One. The winner and the runner up of League One will be automatically promoted to the Football League Championship and they will be joined by the winner of the League One playoff. The bottom four teams in the league will be relegated to the third division, League Two.

Leicester City will play at this level for the first time in their history having spent all their time in the top two divisions. In the opposite direction, Hereford United are making their debut in the third tier after many seasons in non-league and lower-league football.

Changes from last season

From League One

Promoted to Championship

Relegated to League Two

To League One

Relegated from Championship

Promoted from League Two

Season assessment

Brighton & Hove Albion

An inconsistent start.

Bristol Rovers

In an average start, the Gas were indebted to Ricky Lambert's goals. One was scored in a 3-2 loss to Carlisle on the opening game, one in a draw at Brighton, Two in a 6-1 win over Hereford, and strikes at Leeds (2-2) and Peterborough (4-5). Rovers lost to Wallsall and Cheltnham before Lambert and relegation dogged new signing Jo Kuffour rescued a draw at Yeovil. In the next match, Rovers made no intention of attacking against Crewe and were happy with a 0-0 draw. Colchester were beaten by Lambert's 9th of the season before Danny Coles scored for both sides in a 2-1 win over Leyton orient. A 1-1 stalemate with Huddersfield followed. Lambert then scored a 30-yarder against Oldham and 4 in the home win over Southend. Despite Kuffor's fantastic strike, Gas lose their next game, to Leicster, and would suffer another defeat, at home to Scunthorpe. Solace lay in the Scunthorpe loss, in the shape of Lambert's 16th strike of the season. Another was scored in a draw with Swindon, in which Gas played in their anniversary kit, but his contribution was overshadowed by teammate Chris Lines who scored a 94th minute equaliser but went too far into the crowd in celebration and received his 2nd yellow card. This would mean he missed the Hartlepool match.

Carlisle United

Carlisle got 13 points in their first 5 games, but only 1 in their next 11 ending another promotion bid early and spelling the end for their manager.

Cheltenham Town

Colchester United

Crewe Alexandra

Hartlepool United

Hereford United

Hereford have found life in the 3rd teir tough, due to a habit of conceding sloppy goals

Huddersfield Town

The loan signing of Liam Dickinson in August and his 6 goals the bright point of the Terriers dour start. A little-deserved last gasp win over Leeds in the derby was another brilliant moment, and included a goal from the aptly named Joe Skarz. Good news has been the loss of Stan Ternent as manager and Dickinson signing for Blackpool in November.

Leeds United

Manager Gary McAllister was never afraid to experiment with formations and rotate his side. He signed Robert Snodgrass to add to the midfield which already included David Prutton, Jonathan Douglas, Bradley Johnson, Jonathan Howson and Neil Kilkenny as well as apprentice Fabian Delph. McAllister also signed for attacking options Enoch Showunmi (From Bristol City F.C.) and Argentine striker Luciano Becchio (from U.D. Merida). The season started at Scunthorpe, and in the first match of the season, Leeds dropped Johnson, Douglas and Killkenny. The peacoks won 2-1 with a debut goal from Showumni and a strike against hs old club from Jermaine Beckford. The next league match was a home loss to Oldham, but afterwards, the tide was turned in a respectable draw at Yeovil after Becchio netted a minute into his first start for Leeds. McAllister made the bravest decision of his life after a 4-0 league cup win over Crystal Palace. In the next league 1 match the Scot dropped Prutton and goalie Casper Ankergren. Leeds drew 2-2 with Bristol rovers before winning all of their September matches, including in the League cup. In October ,away losses to Peterboro and Millwall (the latter marred by the worst violence from Leeds ultras science the 1970s) punctured Leeds' bubble, but a home win over Brighton was a welcome win. Beckford's brace in the defeat of Brighton (3-1) resulted in his 13th strike of the season. Being knocked out of the Johnstones paint cup wasn't a disaster for Leeds. Becchio scored at Millwall before strikes in wins over Leyton Orient and Wallsall. Those 2 wins put Leeds in 2nd. That happy position was lost, but Leeds stayed in the top 3, even after losing to Southend. Ironically, Southend's winner was scored by former Leeds player Dan Harding.

Second place was won back with another goal from Becchio, at Cheltenham, but Leeds would lose the West Yorkshire Derby and slump 4, but after a hat trick in the FA cup, Beckford inspired a triumph over Hartlepool. In that Win, Delph showed how interested FA Premier League clubs were in him. 2 away losses in a row after was a shock to the system.

Leicester City

Leicester have had a good start, with only a loss to Millwall a blow. The matches against MK dons, Cheltnham, Tranmere, Leyton Orient, Hartlepool, Colchester and Huddersfield were those Leicester won in the first 10 rounds. A loss to Brighton HA after having a 2 goal lead made the foxes fall to 6th. However, This was a slight blow as a wins over Yeovil and Bristol rovers and a draw with Swindon put the most expirienced side in the league- with Steve Howard and Matt Oakley- into the top 2. A win over Scunthorpe was the next step.

Leyton Orient

Millwall

Manager Kenny Jackett made some interesting singings during the summer as he wanted to turn last season's surviving side into promotion contenders. Midfielders Ashley Grimes, Nadjim Abdou, Goalkeeper David Forde, Defender Tony Craig all arrived during the summer. Striker Tresor Kandol was singned on a 6 month loan deal from Leeds United. The Season Started With a 4-3 defeat to Oldham Athletic on the first day despite being 3-1 with 15 minutes to go. A last minute equaliser rescued a point for the lions against Southend United. A goalless draw away to Northampton Town with a lackluster performance got some fans fearing another season of struggle. However that was all to change as a last minute penalty save from David Forde ensured Millwall would have their 1st win of the season with a 2-1 success at home to Huddersfield Town. That win would kick start a tremendous run with four more victories. Following the win over Huddersfield would be another home win against Hartlepool United, incredibly the lions managed to keep the run going with a brilliant 1-0 win away to Leicester City, Gary Alexander the hero on the day, a result which would end Leicester's unbeaten start to the campaign. Millwall would carry on winning with a 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town at home. A Sunday game away to Swindon Town would also bring another win this time a 2-1 success with Lewis Grabban and loan signing from Plymouth Argyle Jermaine Easter on the scoresheet and also having Easter sent off in the last minute.

This Run would earn Manager Kenny Jackett the manager of the month award for September, but he and everyone at Millwall was brought back down to Earth as Milton Keynes Dons would end the winning run and Millwall's unbeaten home record wiv a 4-0 demoloting. The Team Would recover one week later with a tremondous performance away to Tranmere Rovers and a splendid 3-1 victory with Nadjim Abdou getting his first goal for the club in the process. An excellent 3-1 win over Leeds United followed with Neil Harris firing a second half brace to help secure the lions a famous win over their promotion rivals.

Colchester United F.C. were beaten at the community stadium, but Scunthorpe won 3-2. Grabban's last minute goal did give Millwall a win over Hereford, and they returned to 2nd. Brighton and Hove Albion F.C., however won 4-1 at the withdean and second place was lost. Leicster beating Yeovil 10 days afterwards meant that Millwall couldn't regain the automatic spots, even after beating stockport 1-0. A bore draw in the London Derby against Leyton Orient F.C. followed.

Milton Keynes Dons

The League Two and Johnstone Paint Trophy Champions enjoyed a good start to the season, flirting with the playoff spots for the first part of the season. A win at Wallsall put them into the top 2.

Northampton Town

Oldham Athletic

Peterborough United

Many good Victories-examples include 5-4 over Bristol Rovers, 2-0 over Leeds, 2-1 at Wallsall and 6-3 away to Cheltenham and MK dons-have exhibited peterboro's fluency as well as Craig Mackail-Smith's goals. Posh have lost just once in their last 19 league games, that defeat was against Leicester at the walkers stadium, where they were well beaten 4-0

Scunthorpe United

Scunny lost their first 2 games of the season, but 10 wins in the next 11 put them top. A 3-0 loss at Oldham was a blow, however, and so was a draw with Swindon. Following a win over Bristol rovers, their lives depended on the next game , at home to Leicester, but the irons lost 2-1.

Southend United

The shock signing of Dougie Freedman has helped Southend start well.

Stockport County

A good start for Stock, with a brill defensive record.

Swindon Town

After an opening day victory over Tranmere, Swindon sank into torrid form, including a string of 4 straight home league losses, a particularly devastating one vs. 10-man Leeds, and 6 of a possible 30 points in the league. Though preseason hopes of playoffs look misguided, Town have won two straight to lift themselves back to mid-table, before Simon Cox netted a hat trick at league leaders Scunthorpe which included a stunning curler. However, after crashing out of the FA Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Swindon parted company with manager Maurice Malpas by mutual consent. Despite this, Swindon came from 2 down to draw with promotion hopefuls Leicester. Another 2-2 thriller followed, against Bristol Rovers' Gasheads.

Tranmere Rovers

Wallsall

Yeovil Town

League table

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League One

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Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Milton Keynes Dons	Paul Ince	Signed by Blackburn Rovers (mutual consent)	22 June 2008^[2]	Roberto Di Matteo	2 July 2008^[3]	Pre-season
Cheltenham Town	Keith Downing	Mutual consent	13 September 2008^[4]	Martin Allen	15 September 2008^[5]	24th
Colchester United	Geraint Williams	Mutual consent	22 September 2008^[6]	Paul Lambert	24 September 2008^[7]	23rd
Carlisle United	John Ward	Mutual consent	3 November 2008^[8]	Greg Abbott	5 December 2008^[9]	20th
Huddersfield Town	Stan Ternent	Mutual consent	4 November 2008^[10]	Lee Clark	11 December 2008^[11]	16th
Swindon Town	Maurice Malpas	Mutual consent	14 November 2008^[12]	Danny Wilson	26 December 2008^[13]	16th
Crewe Alexandra	Steve Holland	Sacked^[14]	18 November 2008^[15]	Guðjón Þórðarson	24 December 2008^[16]	24th
Hartlepool United	Danny Wilson	Sacked	15 December 2008^[17]			13th
Leeds United	Gary McAllister	Sacked	21 December 2008^[18]	Simon Grayson	23 December 2008^[19]	9th