The big League Two 2026/27 preview
Analysing all 23 of City's opponents for this season and predicting who finishes where
It’s been a decade since York found themselves in League Two, meaning that many of their opponents this season are relatively unfamiliar. Let’s take a look at how each side is shaping up, what to expect from their manager and any key players to look out for.
Accrington Stanley
Last season: 16th
Accrington have spent the last three seasons battling towards the bottom end of League Two, and there’s little reason to think this season will be any different. Working with one of the lowest budgets in the league, manager John Doolan has found a way to just about keep them up in recent years, partly through clever use of the loan market. Doolan tends to set Stanley up in a 3-4-1-2 system, placing a priority on defensive organisation, physicality and directness.
They do have some useful players: Farrend Rawson is a no-nonsense centre-back who won their player of the season for 2025/26, while another of their centre-backs Devon Matthews is highly-rated but is attracting interest from bigger clubs so may leave. At the other end of the pitch, their most notable signing is striker Cole Stockton from Salford City who brings goalscoring pedigree at this level. Otherwise, their recruitment comes mainly from non-league with the likes of midfielder Stefan Mols arriving from Tamworth as well as Southport captain Tom Moore.
Prediction: 23rd (relegated)
It's hard for Accrington to continue punching above their weight given budgetary limitations, so this might be the season their luck runs out. They’ve outperformed expectations plenty of times recently though, so shouldn’t be written off.
Barnet
Last season: 8th
It took a while for Barnet to adapt to League Two last season after winning promotion from the National League. They got off to a slow start and struggled to get results, even if the underlying data suggested they were one of the strongest sides in the league. Their form took an upturn in the second half of the season, though, and they were unfortunate not to make the playoffs: a points total of 76 would typically be enough for a playoff place but they ended up just outside the top 7. Dean Brennan is a much-admired manager at The Hive, having improved the Bees’ league finish in every season since taking charge in 2021. His side typically dominate possession and look to press with intensity high up the pitch to win the ball back. Last season saw some experimentation with a back four after Brennan had favoured a 3-4-2-1 system in the National League.
Barnet have lost some important players over the summer, with Ryan Glover joining Stockport and Callum Stead moving to Cambridge (as well as Mark Shelton making the switch to York). They’ve been active in bringing in replacements, though, with the midfield duo of Brandon Comley and Charlie Lakin arriving from Walsall, and wide player Tom Knowles joining from Forest Green Rovers. Their defence remains strong, with Nik Tavares and Danny Collinge adding composure at the back, and Adam Senior offering attacking threat from wing-back. Nnamdi Ofoborh had an impressive breakout season in 2025/26 and will be key to their midfield, while up front Kabongo Tshimanga will look to continue the form that saw him score 12 times since arriving in January.
Prediction: 3rd (promoted)
While Barnet have lost some key players, Dean Brennan has proved he can find new gems that fit their style in the past. The underlying data last season suggested they actually underperformed by finishing 8th, so there’s no reason they can’t push on.
Bristol Rovers
Last season: 14th
The Gas had Steve Evans to thank for rescuing them last season: he arrived in December with the club unexpectedly mired in a relegation fight, but brought in some loanees who made a big contribution in the second half of the season to see Rovers finish comfortably clear of trouble. Their late season form, in which they won 11 of their last 14 games, has led many to expect a promotion push this time out. Evans’ team will adopt a very direct, physical style with an emphasis on high workrate, effective set pieces, and long diagonal balls towards wide players. They mostly set up in a 4-3-3 formation under Evans last season but he is not tied to a specific system so this could be adapted.
Rovers moved quickly this summer to secure the return of three of the loan players who helped turn around their season in 2025/26. Kofi Balmer has now signed permanently from Motherwell, and should form a formidable centre-back pairing with Alfie Kilgour who offers a big physical presence. Experienced midfielder Richie Smallwood also returns from Tranmere, this time on a permanent deal, and attacking midfielder Tommy Leigh is back for another loan spell from Bradford. A familiar face for York fans in Rovers’ attacking line is Shaq Forde, who has had a somewhat troubled time at the club but now looks to be a key figure under Evans.
Prediction: 5th (playoffs)
Bristol Rovers are a big club at this level, and will be looking to put a challenging 2025/26 behind them. Their recruitment looks strong, and Steve Evans has a record of success in the lower leagues, so playoffs should be the minimum expectation.
Cheltenham Town
Last season: 18th
Entering their third season at this level since relegation back to League Two in 2024, Cheltenham will be hoping for a happier campaign after flirting with relegation in 2025/26. Following a poor start last season, Steve Cotterill returned for his second spell in charge after leading the Robins out of non-league in 1999, and ultimately did enough to steer them to safety. Cotterill tends to set his teams up in a 4-3-3 and relies on a pragmatic approach in which effort and intensive pressing are prioritised. With former Burnley chairman Mike Garlick having taken ownership of the club fairly recently, they will be hoping for progression on the pitch and to stay well clear of relegation danger.
Their summer recruitment has focused on building a solid defensive base to the side, with goalkeeper Wyll Stanway arriving from Barrow and defender Pierce Sweeney joining from Exeter having played over 400 times for them. It may be difficult to see where the goals are coming from, though, as their standout attacker from last season Isaac Hutchinson is no longer with the club, and their centre-forward options such as George Miller and Jake Bickerstaff have not yet been prolific. The acquisition of midfielder Charlie McCann may go some way to filling the gap left by Hutchinson: McCann was one of the standout players in the National League under Cotterill at Forest Green.
Prediction: 18th
Steve Cotterill is an experienced manager at this level, knows the club well, and should be able to keep them clear of the drop zone again. The squad looks a bit too limited, and lacking in goals, to expected much more than a mid-table finish though.
Chesterfield
Last season: 6th (playoff semi-finals)
Paul Cook’s Chesterfield side have made the playoffs in two successive seasons since winning the National League in 2024, but having fallen at that hurdle each time they will be hoping to push for a top three finish this time out. With one of the biggest fanbases and healthiest budgets in the league, it shouldn’t be out of their reach. Cook has tasted success at this level before, having won the League Two title with Chesterfield in 2014 and with Portsmouth in 2017. He sets his side up in an attacking 4-2-3-1 system, placing an emphasis on keeping the ball (Chesterfield averaged the highest possession in the league last season) and playing a high defensive line which can occasionally leave them exposed to quick counter-attacks.
Many of the players City fans may remember from the Spireites’ National League title-winning side are still playing a key role, such as veteran defensive midfielder Tom Naylor and versatile operator Liam Mandeville, although tricky attacking midfielder Armando Dobra has left to join Leyton Orient this summer. Luckily for Chesterfield, they have another equally talented wide attacker in the form of Dilan Markanday who is one of the strongest dribblers in the league. Their incomings this summer include young centre-back Alfie Pond from Crewe, technical midfielder George McEachran from Grimsby, and young forward Fraser Bryden after an impressive goalscoring season in Northern Ireland with Crusaders.
Prediction: 4th (playoffs)
The Spireites have one of the stronger squads in the league, and in Paul Cook a manager with a history of success at the level. A top three finish isn’t out of the question, but they may need to tighten up defensively to achieve it.
