League One Gameweek 33 Review: Cardiff Stay Four Clear As Lincoln Keep Pace
Competition: Sky Bet League One
Dates: Tuesday 17th February to Wednesday 18th February 2026
Total Goals: 28 goals from 12 matches
Leyton Orient Result: Leyton Orient 1-3 Plymouth Argyle (Away)
A midweek gameweek of contrasting fortunes across League One, with Cardiff City maintaining their four-point lead at the summit despite the chasing pack doing their jobs. Lincoln City kept up the pressure with an emphatic 4-0 dismantling of Northampton, while Plymouth Argyle served a timely reminder of their promotion credentials with a dominant 3-1 win at Leyton Orient. At the other end of the table, the relegation picture remained murky as Blackpool, Stevenage and Doncaster all picked up crucial wins to distance themselves from the drop zone.
Gameweek 33 Results Overview
All Results – Goals vs xG Analysis
League One - Matchday 33 Review
Season 2025-26 | Post-Match Analysis
Cardiff
AFC Wimbledon
Barnsley
Peterborough
Burton Albion
Rotherham
Bradford
Stockport County
Doncaster
Huddersfield
Exeter City
Wycombe
Stevenage
Port Vale
Leyton Orient
Plymouth
Lincoln
Northampton
Reading
Bolton
Blackpool
Mansfield Town
Wigan
LutonGoals vs Expected Goals
Updated League One Table
League One Table After Gameweek 33
League One
Updated: 14 Apr 2026, 9:03 PM
BTP Analysis & Talking Points
Key Talking Points
- Cardiff’s Relentless March Continues: Brian Barry-Murphy’s side are now unbeaten in 12 league games, with Tuesday’s 4-1 demolition of AFC Wimbledon their eighth win during that run. Ollie Tanner was outstanding again — the winger now has eight assists in his last seven games after returning from a four-month ankle injury lay-off. With Bolton 12 points adrift in third, Cardiff’s grip on the title is tightening with every passing week.
- Stevenage’s Revival Gathering Momentum: Dan Phillips’ first-time strike against Port Vale — his first goal in 56 appearances for the club — encapsulated a side rediscovering their early-season swagger. Alex Revell’s team led the division after winning eight of their opening nine fixtures before a difficult run derailed them, but three wins in five now has them seventh and within touching distance of the play-offs. They have games in hand on most of the sides above them and should not be written off.
- Blackpool’s Discipline Crisis Clouds a Crucial Win: The Seasiders desperately needed a response after the 4-0 humiliation at Plymouth, and they got one against Mansfield. However, the off-field news overshadowed the result — James Husband has been stripped of the captaincy and handed the maximum club fine after his second red card of 2026. Ian Evatt was unequivocal that standards had to be upheld, but losing their captain for another suspension is a blow for a side only three points clear of the relegation zone.
Match of the Week: Lincoln City 4-0 Northampton Town
LincolnNorthamptonMatch Statistics
Lincoln City produced the performance of the gameweek to thrash Northampton Town 4-0 at the LNER Stadium, keeping their pursuit of Cardiff City firmly alive. With Cardiff dropping just two points in their last 12 games, Lincoln cannot afford slip-ups, and this was a statement result that underlined why they remain the most credible threat to the Bluebirds’ title charge. Northampton, struggling in the lower reaches of the table, were simply outclassed from first to last, offering little resistance as the Imps moved through the gears. The win maintained the four-point gap between the top two, setting up what promises to be an absorbing final stretch to the season.
Lincoln’s victory was a collective effort, but their standout performers drove an intensity and quality that Northampton simply could not live with. The Imps’ movement and pressing from the front made them near-impossible to play through, and the clinical finishing on display suggested a team in excellent form at exactly the right time of the season.
No recent matches found.
Jack Moylan
Lincoln | Rating: 9.9
Leyton Orient Review
Leyton OrientPlymouthMatch Statistics
The Performance: This was a comprehensive Plymouth performance rather than an Orient collapse — Tom Cleverley’s side were the better team from the outset and thoroughly deserved their 3-1 victory at the Gaughan Group Stadium. Orient managed to level at 1-1 at some point, but Plymouth reasserted control and never looked troubled once they moved back in front. The hosts could have few complaints about the final scoreline.
Key Moments: The decisive moment came when Orient goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi spilled Owen Dale’s long-range strike with the scores level, allowing Ronan Curtis to pounce on the rebound and put Plymouth ahead. Curtis then delivered a pinpoint corner that Mathias Ross headed home to make the game safe with 20 minutes remaining, ensuring there was no route back for Orient.
xG Verdict: Plymouth’s dominance is likely to be reflected in the xG data — this was a controlled, professional away performance rather than a smash-and-grab. Orient will have questions to answer about the goalkeeping error that proved pivotal, but Plymouth created the chances that merited the win.
Ronan Curtis was the standout performer of this match and arguably of the entire gameweek. The 29-year-old, who joined from Port Vale last month, scored his first goal for Plymouth after reacting quickest to the keeper’s parry, then delivered the corner that led to the third. Manager Tom Cleverley was effusive in his praise, and on this evidence it is easy to see why — Curtis brings technical quality, aerial threat, and set-piece delivery that Plymouth’s promotion push needed. He is proving to be an excellent piece of January business.
Ronan Curtis
Plymouth | Rating: 7.3
xG Deep Dive
Goals vs Expected Goals Chart
No xG data available for matchday 33.
xG Overperformers
- Doncaster Rovers — A 1-0 win over Huddersfield on a low xG is exactly the type of result that breeds confidence. Rovers have shown a capacity for grinding out results when it matters, and this was another example of a side making the most of limited chances.
- Blackpool — Niall Ennis’ 34th-minute strike was the difference against Mansfield in what was likely a tight, cagey affair. A clinical finish in a game of few clear opportunities.
- Bradford City — Getting the better of Stockport County 1-0 in front of over 22,000 at Valley Parade suggests Bradford made their opportunities count against a well-organised opponent.
xG Underperformers
- Northampton Town — Conceding four at Lincoln suggests the Cobblers were undone not just by quality but by their inability to create enough to stay in the game. Likely to show a poor xG return on both sides of the ball.
- Bolton Wanderers — Dominated the second half at Reading and deserved more than a 1-1 draw, scoring only through a 96th-minute Burstow equaliser despite sustained second-half pressure. A game where their xG probably outstripped their goal return considerably.
- AFC Wimbledon — Cardiff were simply too good. Wimbledon’s only goal came against the run of play from a set piece and the xG figures are likely to paint a picture of comprehensive home dominance.
Shock Result of the Week
Doncaster Rovers’ 1-0 home victory over Huddersfield Town stands as the result of the gameweek that will have caused the most raised eyebrows. The Terriers had been pushing for a play-off position and would have expected to take something from the Eco-Power Stadium, but Rovers — a side fighting at the wrong end of the table — ground out a result that demonstrates exactly why this division remains so unpredictable. For Huddersfield, it is a damaging setback in the race for a top-six finish. For Doncaster, it is a lifeline in what has been a difficult season, and the type of scalp that can galvanise a squad.
Team Performance Ratings
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 33 Verdict
Gameweek 33 reinforced the picture at both ends of the table. Cardiff remain in the driving seat for the title and it is hard to see where their lead will be significantly dented given the points gap to Bolton in third. Lincoln remain the only realistic challengers for automatic promotion, and they are doing their job. The play-off picture remains congested and fascinating, with Stevenage’s resurgence adding another dimension, while in the relegation zone the results were mixed enough to keep the battle alive for several more weeks.
- Cardiff City — Another win, four-point lead intact, unbeaten run now at 12.
- Plymouth Argyle — Dominant away win underlines promotion credentials.
- Stevenage — Third win in five, play-offs firmly in sight again.
- Huddersfield Town — Beaten by Doncaster in a result that damages their play-off push.
- Leyton Orient — Conceded three at home and Plymouth were never truly threatened.
- James Husband — Stripped of the Blackpool captaincy and hit with the maximum club fine after a second red card of 2026.
Looking Ahead: Gameweek 34 brings another set of fixtures that could reshape the promotion and play-off picture. Lincoln face a stern test if they are to maintain pressure on Cardiff, while the play-off pack — Stevenage, Reading, Bradford and others — will be eyeing further ground to make up. In the relegation battle, every point is becoming precious, particularly for sides in that congested band between 17th and 22nd.
For Leyton Orient: The defeat to Plymouth will need an honest assessment from the Orient camp. Conceding three at home to a side that controlled the game throughout raises questions about their defensive solidity and the error from goalkeeper Oluwayemi was costly. Orient need a response in Gameweek 34 — a clean sheet and three points would go a long way to steadying confidence heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Check out our Gameweek 34 preview for full stats and predictions!
