The 2018–19 season was the 120th season of the English Football League (EFL) and the third season under that name after it was renamed from The Football League in 2016. It began on 3 August 2018 and concluded on 5 May 2019, with the promotion play-off finals at Wembley Stadium on 25–27 May 2019. For the sixth season running, the league was sponsored by Sky Betting & Gaming and was therefore known as the Sky Bet EFL.

The EFL is contested through three divisions: the Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner-up of the Championship are automatically promoted to the Premier League and they are joined by the winner of the Championship play-off. The bottom two teams in League Two are relegated to the National League.

The 2018–19 season marked the start of an initial two-year partnership between the EFL and its official charity partner Mind. The mental health charity had its logo displayed on the shirts of all EFL clubs and worked with the EFL to promote mental health within football and the wider community. Also, this season saw one of the EFL's original members, Notts County, relegated from the league for the first time ever.

Promotion and relegation

From the Premier League Relegated to the Championship West Bromwich Albion Stoke City Swansea City From the Championship Promoted to the Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardiff City Fulham Relegated to League One Barnsley Burton Albion SunderlandFrom League One Promoted to the Championship Wigan Athletic Blackburn Rovers Rotherham United Relegated to League Two Oldham Athletic Northampton Town MK Dons BuryFrom League Two Promoted to League One Accrington Stanley Luton Town Wycombe Wanderers Coventry City Relegated to the National League Barnet Chesterfield From the National League Promoted to League Two Macclesfield Town Tranmere Rovers

Championship

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Norwich City (C, P)46271369357+3694Promotion to the Premier League
2Sheffield United (P)46261197841+3789
3Leeds United46258137350+2383Qualification for Championship play-offs
4West Bromwich Albion462311128762+2580
5Aston Villa (O, P)462016108261+2176
6Derby County462014126954+1574
7Middlesbrough462013134941+873
8Bristol City461913145953+670
9Nottingham Forest461715146154+766
10Swansea City461811176562+365
11Brentford461713167359+1464
12Sheffield Wednesday461616146062−264
13Hull City461711186668−262
14Preston North End461613176767061
15Blackburn Rovers461612186469−560
16Stoke City461122134552−755
17Birmingham City461419136458+652
18Wigan Athletic461313205164−1352
19Queens Park Rangers46149235371−1851
20Reading461017194966−1747
21Millwall461014224864−1644
22Rotherham United (R)46816225283−3140Relegation to EFL League One
23Bolton Wanderers (R)4688302978−4932
24Ipswich Town (R)46516253677−4131

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
3Leeds United123
6Derby County044
6Derby County1
5Aston Villa2
4West Bromwich Albion112 (3)
5Aston Villa202 (4)

Results

Home \ AwayASTBIRBLBBOLBREBRIDERHULIPSLEEMIDMILNORNOTPNEQPRREAROTSHUSHWSTOSWAWBAWIG
Aston Villa—4–22–12–02–22–14–02–22–12–33–01–01–25–53–32–21–12–03–31–22–21–00–23–2
Birmingham City0–1—2–20–10–00–12–23–32–21–01–20–22–22–03–00–02–13–11–13–12–00–01–11–1
Blackburn Rovers1–12–2—2–01–00–12–03–02–02–10–10–00–12–20–11–02–21–10–24–20–12–22–13–0
Bolton Wanderers0–21–00–1—0–12–21–00–11–20–10–22–10–40–31–21–21–12–10–30–20–00–10–21–1
Brentford1–01–15–21–0—0–13–35–12–02–01–22–01–12–13–03–02–25–12–32–03–12–30–12–0
Bristol City1–11–24–12–11–1—0–21–01–10–10–21–12–21–10–12–11–11–01–01–20–12–03–22–2
Derby County0–33–10–04–03–11–1—2–02–01–41–10–11–10–02–02–02–16–12–11–10–02–13–12–1
Hull City1–32–00–16–02–01–11–2—2–00–11–12–10–00–21–12–23–12–20–33–02–03–21–02–1
Ipswich Town1–11–12–20–01–12–31–10–2—3–20–22–31–11–11–10–21–21–01–10–11–10–11–21–0
Leeds United1–11–23–22–11–12–02–00–22–0—0–03–21–31–13–02–11–02–00–11–03–12–14–01–2
Middlesbrough0–31–01–12–01–20–11–11–02–01–1—1–10–10–21–22–02–10–03–00–11–00–01–02–0
Millwall2–10–20–21–11–11–22–12–23–01–12–2—1–31–01–30–01–00–02–30–00–01–22–02–1
Norwich City2–13–12–13–21–03–23–43–23–00–31–04–3—3–32–04–02–23–12–22–20–11–03–41–0
Nottingham Forest1–32–21–21–02–10–11–03–02–04–23–02–21–2—0–10–11–01–01–02–10–02–11–13–1
Preston North End1–11–04–12–24–31–10–01–24–00–21–13–23–10–0—1–02–31–10–13–32–21–12–34–0
Queens Park Rangers1–03–41–21–23–20–31–12–33–01–02–12–00–10–11–4—0–01–21–23–00–04–02–31–0
Reading0–00–02–10–12–13–21–23–02–20–30–13–11–22–02–10–1—1–10–21–22–21–40–03–2
Rotherham United1–21–33–21–12–40–01–02–31–01–21–21–01–22–12–12–21–1—2–22–22–22–10–41–1
Sheffield United4–10–03–02–02–02–33–11–02–00–11–01–12–12–03–21–04–02–0—0–01–11–21–24–2
Sheffield Wednesday1–31–14–21–02–02–01–21–12–11–11–22–10–43–01–01–20–02–20–0—2–23–12–21–0
Stoke City1–10–12–32–01–10–22–12–02–02–10–01–02–22–00–22–20–02–22–20–0—1–00–10–3
Swansea City0–13–33–12–03–00–11–12–22–32–23–11–01–40–01–03–02–04–31–02–13–1—1–22–2
West Bromwich Albion2–23–21–11–21–14–21–43–21–14–12–32–01–12–24–17–14–12–10–11–12–13–0—2–0
Wigan Athletic3–00–33–15–20–01–00–12–11–11–20–01–01–12–22–02–10–01–00–33–20–00–01–0—

League One

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Luton Town (C, P)46271369042+4894Promotion to the EFL Championship
2Barnsley (P)46261378039+4191
3Charlton Athletic (O, P)462610107340+3388Qualification for League One play-offs
4Portsmouth46251388351+3288
5Sunderland46221958047+3385
6Doncaster Rovers462013137658+1873
7Peterborough United462012147162+972
8Coventry City461811175454065
9Burton Albion461712176657+963
10Blackpool461517145052−262
11Fleetwood Town461613175852+661
12Oxford United461515165864−660
13Gillingham461510216172−1155
14Accrington Stanley461413195167−1655
15Bristol Rovers461315184750−354
16Rochdale46159225487−3354
17Wycombe Wanderers461411215567−1253
18Shrewsbury Town461216185159−852
19Southend United46148245568−1350
20AFC Wimbledon461311224263−2150
21Plymouth Argyle (R)461311225680−2450Relegation to EFL League Two
22Walsall (R)461211234971−2247
23Scunthorpe United (R)461210245383−3046
24Bradford City (R)46118274977−2841

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
3Charlton Athletic (p)224 (4)
6Doncaster Rovers134 (3)
3Charlton Athletic2
5Sunderland1
4Portsmouth000
5Sunderland101

Results

Home \ AwayACCWIMBARBLPBRABRRBRTCHACOVDONFLEGILLUTOXFPETPLYPORROCSCUSHRSTDSUNWALWYC
Accrington Stanley—2–10–21–23–10–01–11–10–11–00–10–20–34–20–45–11–10–11–12–11–10–32–11–2
AFC Wimbledon1–1—1–40–00–11–10–21–20–02–00–32–40–22–11–02–11–21–12–31–22–11–21–32–1
Barnsley2–00–0—2–13–01–00–02–12–21–14–22–13–24–02–01–11–12–12–02–11–00–01–12–1
Blackpool1–12–00–1—3–20–33–02–12–01–12–10–30–00–10–12–21–22–21–00–02–20–12–02–2
Bradford City3–00–00–21–4—0–01–00–22–40–10–11–10–12–03–10–00–10–22–04–30–41–24–01–2
Bristol Rovers1–22–02–14–03–2—0–00–03–10–42–11–21–20–02–20–01–20–11–21–10–10–20–10–1
Burton Albion5–23–03–13–01–11–0—1–21–01–00–12–32–10–01–21–11–21–20–02–11–22–10–03–1
Charlton Athletic1–02–02–00–01–03–12–1—1–22–00–02–03–11–10–12–12–14–04–02–11–11–12–13–2
Coventry City1–11–11–00–22–00–01–22–1—2–12–11–11–20–11–11–00–10–11–21–11–01–13–01–0
Doncaster Rovers1–22–10–02–02–14–12–21–12–0—0–43–32–12–23–12–00–05–03–00–03–00–13–13–0
Fleetwood Town1–10–11–33–22–10–01–01–03–03–0—1–11–22–21–12–02–52–20–12–12–22–10–01–1
Gillingham0–00–11–40–14–00–13–10–21–11–33–0—1–31–02–43–12–01–11–00–20–21–40–32–2
Luton Town4–12–20–02–24–01–02–02–21–14–02–02–2—3–14–05–13–22–03–23–22–01–12–03–0
Oxford United2–30–02–22–01–00–23–12–11–22–20–21–01–2—0–12–02–14–22–13–00–11–11–22–1
Peterborough United0–11–00–42–21–12–13–10–01–21–11–02–03–12–2—0–11–22–10–21–22–01–11–14–2
Plymouth Argyle0–31–00–30–13–32–22–30–22–12–32–13–10–03–01–5—1–15–13–22–11–10–22–11–1
Portsmouth1–12–10–00–15–11–12–21–22–11–11–00–21–04–12–33–0—4–12–01–12–03–12–02–2
Rochdale1–03–40–42–10–40–00–41–00–12–31–13–00–00–01–41–21–3—3–12–11–01–21–21–0
Scunthorpe United2–01–22–20–02–30–10–35–32–11–10–50–20–23–30–21–41–23–3—1–04–11–11–11–0
Shrewsbury Town1–00–03–10–00–11–11–10–31–02–00–02–20–32–32–22–00–23–21–1—2–00–20–02–1
Southend United3–00–10–31–22–01–23–21–21–22–31–02–00–10–02–32–33–31–22–00–2—2–13–00–2
Sunderland2–21–04–21–11–02–11–12–14–52–01–14–21–11–12–22–01–14–13–01–13–0—2–11–1
Walsall0–10–10–10–03–21–31–30–22–11–42–02–12–21–33–02–12–31–21–20–01–12–2—3–2
Wycombe Wanderers1–31–21–00–00–01–22–10–10–23–21–00–11–10–01–01–02–33–03–23–22–31–11–0—

League Two

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Lincoln City (C, P)46231677343+3085Promotion to EFL League One
2Bury (P)462213118256+2679
3Milton Keynes Dons (P)462310137149+2279
4Mansfield Town462016106941+2876Qualification for League Two play-offs
5Forest Green Rovers462014126847+2174
6Tranmere Rovers (O, P)462013136350+1373
7Newport County462011155959071
8Colchester United462010166553+1270
9Exeter City461913146049+1170
10Stevenage462010165955+470
11Carlisle United46208186762+568
12Crewe Alexandra46198196059+165
13Swindon Town461616145956+364
14Oldham Athletic461614166760+762
15Northampton Town461419136463+161
16Cheltenham Town461512195768−1157
17Grimsby Town46168224556−1156
18Morecambe461412205470−1654
19Crawley Town46158235168−1753
20Port Vale461213213955−1649
21Cambridge United461211234066−2647
22Macclesfield Town461014224874−2644
23Notts County (R)46914234884−3641Relegation to the National League
24Yeovil Town (R)46913244166−2540

Play-offs

Semi-finalsFinal
4Mansfield Town101 (3)
7Newport County (p)101 (5)
7Newport County0
6Tranmere Rovers1
5Forest Green Rovers011
6Tranmere Rovers112

Results

Home \ AwayBURCAMCARCHLCOLCRACREEXEFGRGRILINMACMANMKDMORNEWNORNOTOLDPORSTESWITRAYEO
Bury—0–30–14–12–01–13–12–01–14–03–33–02–24–33–21–13–14–03–11–14–01–32–11–0
Cambridge United2–2—1–20–10–12–10–00–21–31–01–21–01–10–11–20–33–23–21–11–02–00–00–00–0
Carlisle United3–22–2—2–04–04–21–01–11–20–11–02–13–22–30–23–22–21–36–02–10–12–10–20–1
Cheltenham Town1–12–00–1—1–30–10–01–12–22–10–23–22–23–12–22–13–14–10–01–00–23–21–31–0
Colchester United1–23–01–13–0—3–16–01–10–31–01–01–02–32–00–03–01–23–30–22–01–21–00–23–1
Crawley Town3–22–02–31–02–0—3–01–11–22–10–31–10–00–42–04–10–11–10–30–11–32–23–13–1
Crewe Alexandra1–12–02–11–32–16–1—1–24–32–02–13–00–30–06–03–20–23–00–20–11–01–03–22–0
Exeter City0–11–03–13–13–01–31–0—1–21–20–30–11–43–10–01–12–25–11–02–01–02–00–12–1
Forest Green Rovers1–22–11–11–10–11–01–00–0—3–01–22–01–11–20–11–12–11–21–11–10–01–13–13–0
Grimsby Town0–00–21–01–01–01–02–00–01–4—1–10–20–11–01–23–00–04–00–32–00–22–15–20–1
Lincoln City2–11–12–21–10–30–11–01–12–11–0—1–11–12–13–13–21–13–12–01–12–24–10–01–0
Macclesfield Town1–41–12–11–11–12–03–33–21–10–21–2—1–11–31–10–00–50–12–10–02–21–21–11–0
Mansfield Town2–11–01–04–21–11–01–21–21–02–11–13–1—1–14–03–04–02–00–01–01–20–03–00–1
Milton Keynes Dons1–06–02–03–00–11–00–11–01–11–10–22–01–0—2–02–01–02–12–11–11–12–31–12–0
Morecambe2–33–00–24–00–11–02–20–23–01–10–22–10–14–2—1–11–01–10–22–21–20–13–42–1
Newport County3–14–22–01–02–00–01–01–01–41–01–03–31–00–11–1—3–13–22–00–02–10–00–00–6
Northampton Town0–02–23–01–30–40–02–02–12–12–20–13–11–12–21–11–0—0–02–11–21–11–11–12–2
Notts County0–00–11–10–30–03–12–10–11–32–11–11–21–01–20–01–42–2—0–00–03–31–23–20–4
Oldham Athletic4–23–11–32–03–32–11–12–30–02–01–13–13–21–21–20–12–52–0—0–11–12–22–04–1
Port Vale1–03–00–12–20–31–01–01–10–20–12–60–12–10–20–11–22–02–21–4—1–40–11–23–0
Stevenage0–10–13–02–03–12–10–11–10–21–00–11–01–33–21–01–01–20–33–20–0—2–02–21–0
Swindon Town1–20–20–40–03–00–11–20–22–01–12–23–20–01–14–02–11–13–10–00–03–2—3–21–1
Tranmere Rovers1–11–03–01–01–15–11–02–00–14–11–01–00–02–13–10–11–21–01–11–02–01–2—0–0
Yeovil Town0–11–00–01–41–10–11–12–21–21–30–20–22–21–13–21–31–12–00–00–32–00–30–0—

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentPosition in table
Charlton AthleticEngland Karl RobinsonSigned by Oxford United22 March 20182017–18 seasonEngland Lee Bowyer6 September 201810th
Scunthorpe UnitedScotland Graham AlexanderSacked24 March 2018England Nick Daws25 May 2018Pre-season
West Bromwich AlbionEngland Alan Pardew2 April 20182017–18 Premier League seasonJamaica Darren Moore18 May 2018
Northampton TownNetherlands Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink2 April 20182017–18 seasonEngland Dean Austin12 May 2018
Ipswich TownRepublic of Ireland Mick McCarthyResigned10 April 2018England Paul Hurst30 May 2018
Milton Keynes DonsEngland Dan MiccicheSacked22 April 2018England Paul Tisdale6 June 2018
SunderlandWales Chris ColemanReleased29 April 2018Scotland Jack Ross25 May 2018
Carlisle UnitedEngland Keith CurleResigned5 May 2018Pre-seasonRepublic of Ireland John Sheridan5 June 2018
BarnsleyPortugal José MoraisSacked6 May 2018Germany Daniel Stendel6 June 2018
Bradford CityEngland Simon GraysonEnd of contract8 May 2018Republic of Ireland Michael Collins18 June 2018
Queens Park RangersEngland Ian HollowaySacked10 May 2018England Steve McClaren18 May 2018
Swansea CityPortugal Carlos CarvalhalEnd of contract18 May 2018England Graham Potter11 June 2018
Stoke CityScotland Paul LambertSacked18 May 2018England Gary Rowett22 May 2018
Derby CountyEngland Gary RowettSigned by Stoke City22 May 2018England Frank Lampard31 May 2018
Shrewsbury TownEngland Paul HurstSigned by Ipswich Town30 May 2018England John Askey1 June 2018
Leeds UnitedEngland Paul HeckingbottomSacked1 June 2018Argentina Marcelo Bielsa15 June 2018
Exeter CityEngland Paul TisdaleEnd of contract1 June 2018England Matt Taylor1 June 2018
Macclesfield TownEngland John AskeySigned by Shrewsbury Town1 June 2018England Mark Yates19 June 2018
Fleetwood TownRepublic of Ireland John SheridanEnd of contract2 June 2018England Joey Barton2 June 2018
Doncaster RoversScotland Darren FergusonResigned4 June 2018Northern Ireland Grant McCann27 June 2018
Oldham AthleticEngland Richie WellensSacked8 June 2018England Frankie Bunn13 June 2018
BlackpoolEngland Gary BowyerResigned8 August 201812thEngland Terry McPhillips10 September 20189th
Cheltenham TownEngland Gary JohnsonSacked21 August 201822ndNorthern Ireland Michael Duff10 September 201818th
Scunthorpe UnitedEngland Nick Daws24 August 201818thScotland Stuart McCall24 August 201818th
Notts CountyEngland Kevin Nolan26 August 201824thAustralia Harry Kewell31 August 201824th
Crawley TownAustralia Harry KewellSigned by Notts County31 August 201814thItaly Gabriele Cioffi7 September 201816th
Bradford CityRepublic of Ireland Michael CollinsSacked3 September 201817thScotland David Hopkin4 September 201817th
Northampton TownEngland Dean Austin30 September 201821stEngland Keith Curle1 October 201821st
Aston VillaEngland Steve Bruce3 October 201812thEngland Dean Smith10 October 201815th
Macclesfield TownEngland Mark Yates8 October 201824thEngland Sol Campbell27 November 2018
BrentfordEngland Dean SmithSigned by Aston Villa10 October 20186thDenmark Thomas Frank16 October 20187th
Ipswich TownEngland Paul HurstSacked25 October 201824thScotland Paul Lambert26 October 201824th
Swindon TownEngland Phil Brown12 November 201817thEngland Richie Wellens13 November 201817th
AFC WimbledonEngland Neal ArdleyMutual consent12 November 201823rdEngland Wally Downes4 December 201823rd
Shrewsbury TownEngland John AskeySacked12 November 201818thWales Sam Ricketts3 December 201815th
Notts CountyAustralia Harry Kewell13 November 201822ndEngland Neal Ardley23 November 201823rd
Cambridge UnitedRepublic of Ireland Joe Dunne1 December 201821stScotland Colin Calderwood19 December 201822nd
ReadingEngland Paul Clement6 December 201821stPortugal José Gomes22 December 201821st
Bristol RoversEngland Darrell ClarkeMutual consent13 December 201821stRepublic of Ireland Graham Coughlan6 January 201920th
Sheffield WednesdayNetherlands Jos LuhukaySacked21 December 201818thEngland Steve Bruce2 January 201916th
Oldham AthleticEngland Frankie Bunn27 December 201812thEngland Paul Scholes11 February 201914th
Carlisle UnitedRepublic of Ireland John SheridanResigned4 January 20197thScotland Steven Pressley16 January 20196th
Stoke CityEngland Gary RowettSacked8 January 201914thWales Nathan Jones9 January 201914th
Luton TownWales Nathan JonesSigned by Stoke City9 January 20192ndEngland Graeme Jones7 May 20191st
Nottingham ForestSpain Aitor KarankaResigned11 January 20197thNorthern Ireland Martin O'Neill15 January 20199th
Peterborough UnitedScotland Steve EvansSacked26 January 20196thScotland Darren Ferguson26 January 20196th
Port ValeEngland Neil AspinResigned30 January 201918thEngland John Askey4 February 201918th
Bradford CityScotland David Hopkin25 February 201923rdEngland Gary Bowyer4 March 201923rd
RochdaleEngland Keith HillSacked4 March 201922ndRepublic of Ireland Brian Barry-Murphy3 April 201923rd
West Bromwich AlbionJamaica Darren Moore9 March 20194thCroatia Slaven Bilić13 June 20192019–20 season
Oldham AthleticEngland Paul ScholesResigned14 March 201914thFrance Laurent Banide11 June 2019
Scunthorpe UnitedScotland Stuart McCallSacked24 March 201918thEngland Paul Hurst13 May 2019
Yeovil TownEngland Darren Way24 March 201922ndEngland Darren Sarll19 June 20192019–20 National League season
Southend UnitedEngland Chris Powell26 March 201920thEngland Kevin Bond2 April 201920th
Queens Park RangersEngland Steve McClaren1 April 201917thEngland Mark Warburton9 May 20192019–20 season
WalsallEngland Dean Keates6 April 201922ndEngland Darrell Clarke10 May 2019
GillinghamWales Steve Lovell26 April 201912thScotland Steve Evans1 June 2019
Plymouth ArgyleScotland Derek Adams28 April 201921stEngland Ryan Lowe5 June 2019