The Football League returned with a bang as the joy of a Saturday 3pm kick-off returned. We saw QPR lose heavily at Watford and Plymouth Argyle win on their return to the Championship, while Barnsley weren’t missing Michael Duff in the slightest as they were the biggest winners of the day.
Championship
Blackburn 2-1 West Brom
Bristol City 1-1 Preston
Middlesbrough 0-1 Millwall
Norwich 1-1 Hull
Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfield
Stoke 4-1 Rotherham
Swansea 1-1 Birmingham
Watford 4-0 QPR
QPR were blown away on the opening day as Gareth Ainsworth’s miserable spell in charge continued. All the hope of a new campaign evaporated in an opening 43 minutes that saw them concede four goals.
Plymouth Argyle return to the Championship was capped with an impressive 3-1 home win over Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield. Permanent signing Bali Mumba got on the scoresheet having impressed on loan at Home Park last season and the Green Army got their season off to the perfect start .
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Elsewhere, Millwall secured an impressive win away at Middlesbrough thanks to a goal from 18-year-old Romain Esse, Stoke enjoyed a big win over Rotherham and Blackburn edged past West Brom. Swansea, Bristol City and Norwich all had to settle for 1-1 draws at home.
League One
Barnsley 7-0 Port Vale
Blackpool 2-0 Burton
Bolton 3-0 Lincoln
Cambridge 2-0 Oxford
Carlisle 1-1 Fleetwood
Charlton 1-0 Leyton Orient
Derby 1-2 Wigan
Northampton 0-1 Stevenage
Portsmouth 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Reading 0-1 Peterborough
Shrewsbury 1-0 Cheltenham
Wycombe 0-3 Exeter
Barnsley fans put the memories of a tough summer long behind them as Neill Collins’ reign began in spectacular fashion. The Tykes put their play-off final disappointment behind them as they hit seven past Port Vale. Meanwhile, Bolton got their season off to a flyer with a 3-0 win over Lincoln, however fellow promotion favourites Derby County were stunned at home - losing 2-1 to Wigan Athletic.
Exeter City hit three at Wycombe, while Neil Critchley’s return to Blackpool went well as they won 2-0 at Bloomfield Road against Burton. Reading’s misery continued with a 1-0 home loss to Peterborough and Stevenage marked their return to League One with a 1-0 win at Northampton.
League Two
Accrington 3-0 Newport
Crawley 1-0 Bradford
Crewe 2-2 Mansfield
Doncaster 0-1 Harrogate
Forest Green 0-2 Salford
Grimsby 0-0 Wimbledon
Morecambe 2-1 Walsall
Stockport 0-1 Gillingham
Sutton 5-1 Notts County
Tranmere 1-2 Barrow
Wrexham 3-5 MK Dons
All eyes were on Wrexham as they returned to the EFL, but they leaked goals at home to MK Dons, eventually losing 3-5. Fellow promoted side Notts County also conceded five after an early red card, as Sutton handed them a beating, while Stockport County were beaten at home by Gillingham.
Barrow, Harrogate and Salford enjoyed good away wins while Crewe Alex came from 2-0 down to rescue a point at home to Mansfield. Morecambe also got their season up and running with a home win after a disappointing relegation last year.
