League One Gameweek 31 Review: Lowe Sacked as Peterborough Run Riot
Competition: Sky Bet League One
Dates: Saturday 7th February 2026
Total Goals: 43 goals from 12 matches
Leyton Orient Result: 0-0 vs Stockport County (AWAY)
Gameweek 31 of Sky Bet League One is in the books. A dramatic weekend saw Wigan manager Ryan Lowe sacked following a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Peterborough, while Cardiff cemented their position at the top of the table with a remarkable 10-man victory. Goals flowed freely across the division with 43 in total, including hat-tricks for Kyrell Lisbie and Marcus Browne.
Gameweek 31 Results Overview
All Results – Goals vs xG Analysis
League One - Matchday 31 Review
Season 2025-26 | Post-Match Analysis
Port Vale
Burton Albion
Luton
Bradford
Huddersfield
Blackpool
Bolton
Barnsley
Rotherham
Cardiff
AFC Wimbledon
Reading
Northampton
Stevenage
Peterborough
Wigan
Plymouth
Lincoln
Wycombe
Doncaster
Mansfield Town
Exeter City
Stockport County
Leyton OrientUpdated League One Table
League One Table After Gameweek 31
League One
Updated: 17 Apr 2026, 9:30 AM
BTP Analysis & Talking Points
Key Talking Points
- Lowe Pays the Price: Ryan Lowe’s 11-month reign at Wigan came to an abrupt end following Saturday’s 6-1 hammering at home to Peterborough. The Latics have dropped into the relegation zone after winning just once in their last 10 league games, a catastrophic run that’s seen them fall from 11th to 22nd. Glenn Whelan and Graham Barrow take interim charge ahead of Tuesday’s crucial home clash with Reading and a daunting FA Cup fourth-round tie at Arsenal.
- Ten-Man Cardiff Show Championship Quality: The Bluebirds remain top of the table after a resilient 3-0 win at Rotherham despite captain Ryan Wintle’s 21st-minute red card. Cardiff’s quality shone through with goals from Omari Kellyman, Chris Willock and Isaak Davies, maintaining their two-point cushion over Lincoln. It’s the kind of performance that suggests Omer Riza’s side have the mentality to go all the way.
- Promotion Race Heats Up: Lincoln kept pace at the top with a comprehensive 4-1 win at Plymouth, with Reeco Hackett bagging a brace and an assist. Bolton’s 3-2 victory over Barnsley extended their winning streak to four games under Steven Schumacher, while Luton’s 2-1 win over Bradford keeps their play-off push alive. The gap between third-placed Bolton and seventh-placed Luton is just five points – this race is wide open.
Match of the Week: Peterborough United 6-1 Wigan Athletic
PeterboroughWiganThis was a statement performance from Luke Williams’ Peterborough and a nightmare afternoon for struggling Wigan. Kyrell Lisbie’s first EFL hat-trick – all three goals coming inside 67 minutes – highlighted the gulf in class. The 22-year-old has now scored six goals in his last seven games and looks unplayable. Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Harry Leonard and substitute Pemi Aderoju also got on the scoresheet as Posh ran riot. For Wigan, this was the final straw – their seventh game without a win and a performance that cost Ryan Lowe his job within hours of the final whistle.
An absolute masterclass from the in-form striker. Lisbie opened the scoring with a simple tap-in from Tom Lees’ cross in just the seventh minute, then doubled his tally two minutes later with a well-placed header. He completed his hat-trick in style after 67 minutes with a fine individual effort. At 22, Lisbie is showing the kind of ruthless finishing that could see him playing at a higher level next season. Six goals in seven games tells its own story – he’s on fire.
Kyrell Lisbie
Peterborough | Rating: 9.2
Leyton Orient Review
Stockport CountyLeyton OrientThe Performance: A battling, disciplined display from the O’s at one of League One’s toughest venues. Richie Wellens handed debuts to four deadline-day signings – Tobi Oluwayemi, James Morris, Dylan Levitt and Favour Fawunmi – and they didn’t disappoint. Orient were the better side for large spells, restricting in-form Stockport to just two shots on target despite the hosts having won five of their previous six league games.
Key Moments: Ollie O’Neill had a golden chance inside 10 minutes but was denied by a superb point-blank save from Ben Hinchliffe. Theo Archibald crashed a strike against the crossbar early in the second half as Orient pushed for a winner. The game changed when Stockport’s Josh Dacres-Cogley was shown a second yellow card in the 80th minute for a cynical shirt pull on Dom Ballard. With the man advantage, Orient went close twice in the dying minutes – O’Neill beat Hinchliffe but Josh Stokes cleared off the line, then substitute Josh Koroma forced another brilliant save from the Stockport keeper in stoppage time.
xG Verdict: Orient arguably deserved all three points based on the quality of chances created. They had the better opportunities throughout and nearly nicked it at the death. Against a team in such good form, this was an excellent away point that showcased the squad’s new depth.
O’Neill was Orient’s main creative threat throughout. He forced Hinchliffe into that early save, had another effort cleared off the line late on, and constantly probed the Stockport defence with intelligent movement. On another day, he’d have had a goal or two. His understanding with debutant Favour Fawunmi looked promising – there’s definitely a partnership developing there.
Ollie O’Neill – Recent Form
Leyton Orient
| Date | Opponent | Result | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Feb 2026 | Stockport County (A) | D 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 |
| 31 Jan 2026 | Port Vale (H) | L 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 27 Jan 2026 | Doncaster (A) | L 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Bolton (A) | L 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 6.6 |
| 17 Jan 2026 | Reading (H) | W 3-1 | 0 | 2 | 7.2 |
| 10 Jan 2026 | Cardiff (H) | D 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 6.7 |
xG Deep Dive
xG Trend – Leyton Orient
No xG data available.
xG Takeaways
The clean sheet at Stockport continues Orient’s improved defensive trend under Wellens. While they didn’t find the net, the quality of chances created suggests the goals will come. The integration of four new signings in one game could have been disruptive, but instead it added fresh energy and creativity. Fawunmi looked particularly dangerous on his debut, while Oluwayemi had little to do but handled what came his way confidently. The O’s are creating enough chances – it’s just about converting them more consistently.
Shock Result of the Week
Wycombe’s biggest win of the season was utterly ruthless. New signing Aaron Morley opened the scoring with a first-time finish from a corner, then Cauley Woodrow, Fred Onyedinma and Jamie Mullins piled on the misery for struggling Doncaster. Michael Duff’s side dominated from start to finish, with Woodrow hitting the post before finally getting his goal. This was a statement of intent from the Chairboys – when they click going forward, they’re capable of dismantling anyone in this division.
Team Performance Ratings
No xG data available for matchday 31.
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 31 Verdict
A weekend that had everything – managerial casualties, hat-tricks, 10-man heroics and relegation drama intensifying. Cardiff showed they have the character to win the title, Lincoln proved they won’t go away quietly, and Bolton’s resurgence under Schumacher continues to gather pace. At the bottom, Wigan’s crisis deepened dramatically while Port Vale and Burton shared the points in a crucial six-pointer. The goals flowed freely – 43 across 12 matches – and we witnessed individual brilliance from Lisbie, Browne, and Hackett. With the promotion and relegation races both wide open, League One continues to deliver entertainment week after week.
• Cardiff City – Top despite red card
• Kyrell Lisbie – Hat-trick hero
• Bolton – Four wins in a row
• Leyton Orient – Solid point away at in-form Stockport
• Ryan Lowe – Lost his job at Wigan
• Wigan Athletic – Thrashed 6-1, now in relegation zone
• Plymouth Argyle – Shipped four at Lincoln
• Rotherham – 10-man Cardiff too strong
Looking Ahead: Cardiff host Luton on Friday 14th February in what promises to be a cracking top-of-the-table clash. The Bluebirds will be looking to extend their lead while Luton aim to close the gap on the automatic promotion places.
For Leyton Orient: A tough home fixture against Plymouth Argyle awaits on Tuesday 11th February. After the disappointment of their 4-1 loss at Lincoln, the Pilgrims will be desperate for a response. Orient will be confident of building on their solid Stockport performance.
Check out our Gameweek 32 preview for full stats and predictions!
