The 2020/21 edition of Sky Bet League Two ticked beyond the quarter way stage last week as yet another change for the lead saw Newport County push themselves to the summit of the standings.

Exeter City find themselves in fourth position, well within touch of the clubs at the top. After an opening day draw and a loss in their first home fixture, the Grecians recorded a staggering run of 10 league matches unbeaten, racking up five victories along the way. Joel Randall has been a regular on the scoresheet, and, with five goals to his name, sits joint-11th in the top scorer rankings.

The biggest surprise of the campaign has undoubtedly been the start made by Harrogate Town. Promoted to the EFL for the first time in their history after winning the delayed National League playoff final, the Sulphurites ran undefeated in their first three matches, including a curtain-raising 4-0 obliteration of Southend United. Town have scored 14 goals in 12 games so far, with 31-year-old Jack Muldoon netting seven. Harrogate sit in 12th having lost four of their last six.

Newport County and Cambridge United have been engaged in a ding-dong battle for the lead, with the top spot changing hands many times already this season. Separated by just a single point, Newport have the edge with a game in hand after their tie with 19th-placed Grimsby Town was postponed due to an international call-up for a number of personnel.

County boss Michael Flynn was named Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for October after leading the Welsh club to six wins from a possible seven in the first full month of the season. The Exiles only dropped points in a 2-1 away loss at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium.

Morecambe enjoyed their best start to a League Two campaign for five years, winning four matches from their opening seven, before a rough patch of one win from five sent the Shrimps plummeting to tenth.

It has been a woeful opening to the tale of Southend United, who lay at the foot of the league on five points from 12 matches. Looking to make amends for the relegation from League One last season, they chalked up the only win of their campaign so far last week with a 1-0 win over Walsall – the Shrimpers’ first clean sheet in league play since September 2019.

Despite welcoming 13 new arrivals to the club over the summer months, Mansfield Town have failed to turn their fortunes around from the curtailment of last season. The Stags linger just three points above the relegation zone after just one win, and have already appointed a new boss with Nigel Clough taking the reins.