On 4 May 2008, Leicester City's 0–0 draw with Stoke City was not enough to save the club from relegation due to other results going against them. This means that Leicester played in League One during the 2008–09 season, the first time that Leicester had played in the third tier of English football. Ian Holloway was sacked and replaced by Nigel Pearson, who led Leicester straight to the League One title, leading the division for much of the season, also going a club record 23 league games unbeaten. They clinched their return to the Championship with three games remaining in the season, defeating Southend United 2–0 on 18 April 2009. Matty Fryatt also netted 32 times this season, becoming the first Leicester player to score over 30 goals in one season since the legendary Arthur Rowley did so 52 years previously.