England’s third tier has been struck hard this season by COVID with many clubs forced into postponing games however one thing that hasn’t been affected, is the clinical nature of some of the forwards in League One.
Many clubs have an out and out goalscorer and we have picked out five of the deadliest forwards in the league in accordance with stats from SofaScore.
*all stats are accurate as of 18th January and are likely to change with the hectic schedule in League One.
5 – Joe Pigott (AFC Wimbledon)
Originally from Maidstone, Joe Pigott has had his name linked with many English clubs through the years and with his goal scoring record and physical attributes, its no surprise at all!
Pigott’s best goal scoring season came back in 18/19 where he managed a respectable 15 goals in 40 league games for Wimbledon however he looks set to smash that record this season. Pigott has made 20 League One appearances so far this season for relegation threatened AFC Wimbledon, scoring ten in that time. For those that like some simple maths, he has averaged a goal every other game so far this campaign – which also has him up there as one of the top scorers in the division. Managing 4 assists in that time as well, Pigott has contributed to a overwhelming 56% of Wimbledon’s goals this season.
In terms of goals to minutes, Pigott’s record is even better than immediately suggested from his goal return with an average of one goal every 174 minutes and an average match rating of 7.28.
How important could he be for AFC Wimbledon’s chances this season?
4 – Charlie Wyke (Sunderland AFC)
Given the form Charlie Wyke became accustomed to earlier in his Sunderland career, his sudden increase in form has certainly hit the league by surprise and in particular, Sunderland fans. Wyke joined Sunderland following their relegation from the Championship in 2018 but has only just managed to find his scoring touch.
In his previous two season in League One, Wyke managed just nine goals in the league in 51 appearances and has managed to top that already this season with 10 in 18.
Not only is Wyke one of the top scorers in the league, he is also up there in terms of goals per minute averaging a goal every 129 minutes which is a superb return for any forward.
SofaScore have also accredited Charlie Wyke with an average match rating of 7.27 so far this season and with the great vein of form he currently finds himself in, the only way is up for the big man.
3 – Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough United)
Clarke-Harris gained a reputation as a reliable goalscorer well before his move to Peterborough; however, he’s certainly allowed that to grow even further.
JCL has played in all 20 of Peterborough’s league fixtures so far this season and has played a huge role in pushing them up the table to 5th where they currently sit. 13 goals in these 20 games is a number that currently has him as the join top scorer in the league which is impressive in its own.
Clarke-Harris averages 2.7 shots a game which averages out at a goal every four shots. Alongside this, he currently has a record that has seen him hit the back of the net every 127 minutes in his league appearances.
In terms of all round goal contributions, Clarke-Harris leads the table with 14, joint with Joe Pigott. Further demonstrating his importance to the Peterborough side and their chances of promotion.
Still only 26 years old, JCH certainly has what it takes to take his game to the next level.
2 – Chuks Aneke (Charlton Athletic)
Possibly a name you wouldn’t expect to see labelled as ‘one of the deadliest strikers’ in League One; however, his stats certainly back it up.
Aneke joined the London club following their relegation last season, as part of a major overhaul at the club both on and off the pitch and it’s turned out to be a signing that has really boosted Charlton’s squad for the season.
So far this season, Aneke has scored eight goals in 17 league appearances which doesn’t stand out as anything particularly special however when you look at the deeper stats, it certainly is. Out of those 17 games, Aneke has only started in five of them which in turn has earned Aneke the best goal to minute ratios in the league averaging a goal every 96 minutes.
If given the game time he certainly deserves, Aneke could certainly start to make a push to become the top scorer in the league and potentially fire Charlton back into the Championship.
1 – Luke Jephcott (Plymouth Argyle)
Plymouth are enjoying a decent season so far in League One and this man has certainly contributed to it. Still only 20 years of age, Jephcott could possibly become one of the best strikers in the EFL with his clinical touch and ability to finish every chance he gets.
So far this season, Luke Jephcott has appeared in 17 of Argyles league fixtures, netting an impressive 13 goals which sees him at the top of the League One scoring charts. That alone is an impressive stat for someone at a mid table club, however of those 17 games, he has only started 1- of them and still contributed to over 40% of Arygles league goals.
With that in mind, Jephcott finds the net every 96 minutes with an average of 1.6 shots per game which earns him the best goal to minute ratio in the league alongside Chuks Aneke.
Whilst unlikely, Plymouth could snatch a play off spot if they can keep Jephcott fit and firing for the remainder of the season. Who knows what could happen? Football can be a weird game…
But which striker has impressed you the most this season? Let us know in the comments below!
