They may now find themselves in League One, but it was another miserable day out for Charlton fans, after a 2-0 defeat at Bury. Bolton Wanderers dampened excitement surrounding Chris Wilder’s big plans for Sheffield United after Jay Spearing – crikey – secured a narrow victory. It was a promising start to the season for Millwall, who prop up the table after a convincing win over Oldham while Walsall, Gillingham and Scunthorpe were all among the goals, putting three past their opponents.
In League Two, Blackpool were reminded of what it was like to win again, after beating Exeter City 2-0 at a very empty Bloomfield Road. It was a dream return to the Football League for Grimsby Town but early-season favourites Portsmouth again failed to deliver, stuttering to a draw against Carlisle United.
That was a mightily fine Saturday afternoon of football. Thanks for your company, emails and tweets. Hopefully your evening can now follow suit. Bye!
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So, how about that? A blockbuster day in the Championship particularly, where Norwich City, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest all hit four goals. It was Alex Neil’s Norwich who enjoyed the most resounding victory, though, with Wes Hoolahan and Cameron Jerome starring en route to a good old-fashioned thrashing of Blackburn Rovers. An embarrassing start for Owen Coyle then, whose side were assuringly booed off.
It was a great start to management for Jaap Stam, whose Reading side held off Preston at the Madejski Stadium, where tributes were paid to the late academy coach Eamonn Dolan before kick-off. There was drama, misery and joy all rolled into one for Walter Zenga too at Rotherham – as his 10-man Wolves fought for a point. The action was not quite so adrenaline-filled at Birmingham and Derby, where there were goalless draws.
Elsewhere, there was a strong Chelsea undercurrent. At Huddersfield, Kasey Palmer helped David Wagner’s men overcome Brentford while Tammy Abraham kick-started Bristol City’s turnaround at home to Wigan Athletic, with academy graduate Bobby Reid completing the turnaround.
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Scottish Premiership full-time results
Kilmarnock 1-2 Motherwell
Partick Thistle 2-0 Inverness CT
Ross County 1-3 Dundee
Full time: Nottingham Forest 4-3 Burton Albion
An incredible finish at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest had to deal with the proverbial kitchen sink from Burton Albion but Phillipe Montanier’s side hold on.
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League Two full-time results:
Accrington 3-2 Doncaster Rovers
Blackpool 2-0 Exeter City
Cambridge 1-1 Barnet
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Leyton Orient
Crawley 1-0 Wycombe
Grimsby Town 2-0 Morecambe
Hartlepool 1-1 Colchester
Newport County 2-3 Mansfield
Plymouth 0-3 Luton
Portsmouth 1-1 Carlisle
Stevenage 1-2 Crewe
Yeovil 2-0 Notts County
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League One full-time results:
Bolton 1-0 Sheffield United
Bradford 0-0 Port Vale
Bury 2-0 Charlton Athletic
Millwall 3-0 Oldham Athletic
Northampton Town 1-1 Fleetwood
Oxford United 1-1 Chesterfield
Rochdale 2-3 Peterborough
Scunthorpe 3-1 Bristol Rovers
Shrewsbury 0-1 MK Dons
Southend 1-3 Gillingham
Swindon 1-0 Coventry City
Walsall 3-1 AFC Wimbledon
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Championship full-time results:
Birmingham 0-0 Cardiff City
Blackburn Rovers 1-4 Norwich City
Bristol City 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Derby County 0-0 Brighton and Hove Albion
Huddersfield 2-1 Brentford
Ipswich 4-2 Barnsley
Reading 1-0 Preston
Rotherham 2-2 Wolves
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GOAL! Nottingham Forest 4-3 Burton Albion
Tom Naylor scores what will most probably be only a consolation goal for Nigel Clough’s side at the City Ground, after some great work from Leicester City loanee Hamza Choudhury. Seconds left there now.
Still two goalless games in the Championship at Birmingham and Derby. Jonathan Kodjia has had a chance to put Bristol City out of sight against Wigan but he fluffs his line. Nottingham Forest lead against Burton Albion while Wolves continue to dig deep for a winner at Rotherham.
GOAL! Bristol City 2-1 Wigan Athletic (Reid)
A last-minute winner? It’s a little fortunate, but they will not care one iota. Bobby Reid, another substitute, shoots at goal and his deflected strike ends up in the back of the net, after the hosts piled forward once more following Tammy Abraham’s leveller. Lee Johnson’s personnel changes have done all of the second-half damage at Ashton Gate.
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GOAL! Ipswich Town 4-2 Barnsley (Ward, hat-trick)
A hat-trick inside 40 minutes for the 21-year-old summer signing. Ipswich rarely splash out but one of their four summer signings has done all over the damage at Portman Road this afternoon.
Elsewhere, Charlton endured a torrid time last term and this season is beginning in similar fashion. Kelvin Etuhu has doubled Bury’s lead at Gigg Lane.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 4-2 Burton Albion (Assombalonga)
That should do it, right? Two-goal advantage restored at the City Ground on Phillipe Montanier’s bow as Forest boss.
GOAL! Bristol City 1-1 Wigan Athletic (Abraham)
Another Chelsea goal, sort of! Tammy Abraham, who joined on loan on Friday, heads home just 14 minutes after being hauled on by Lee Johnson. Game on at Ashton Gate then!
Elsewhere, Scunthorpe are now 2-1 in front against Bristol Rovers, Doncaster are level at Accrington while Joss Labadie has found an equaliser for Newport.
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GOAL! Huddersfield 2-1 Brentford (Palmer)
David Wagner will be all smiles again. And it’s another goal scored with a first touch in the Football League. Kasey Palmer, on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea, tucks the ball home on his debut.
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-1 Brentford (Yennaris)
The wing-back has pulled Dean Smith’s side level, after an impressive team move from the visitors. Romaine Sawyers and Scott Hogan combined before Yennaris did the rest, with just 13 minutes to go.
GOAL! Ipswich Town 3-2 Barnsley (Watkins)
We’re jammin! Marley Watkins has pulled a goal back to ensure a grandstand finish at Portman Road.
Ched Evans scores his first goal since 2012 on his Chesterfield debut at Oxford United. He scored 35 goals in his last season with Sheffield United, can he repeat that kind of form this term?
Walsall reluctantly lost last season’s top-scorer Tom Bradshaw to Barnsley over the summer but goals are proving absolutely no problem this afternoon. They are coasting to victory against AFC Wimbledon, with Simeon Jackson bagging their third on 72 minutes. Elsewhere in League One, Daniel Powell, has rattled MK Dons in front at Shrewsbury Town.
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Birmingham and Cardiff remains goalless at St Andrews, as is Derby’s match with Brighton. Also in the Championship, the Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham has been thrown on for Bristol City in search of goals against Wigan, who have withdrawn Grigg. There’s 20-odd minutes to play.
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Bury are in front against Charlton, courtesy of ex-Crystal Palace and frankly ex-everybody midfielder Neil Danns. Still, it’s a debut goal after slotting home from the penalty spot. Elsewhere, Danny Rose, not that one, has put Mansfield ahead away at Newport County in League Two.
GOAL! Rotherham 2-2 Wolves (Bodvarsson)
Huh! Huh! Huh! It’s a debut goal for the Iceland international and 10-man Wolves have come back from two goals down at the New York Stadium. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers have the faintest of lifelines at home to Norwich, after Anthony Stokes’s strike after 67 minutes.
GOAL! Ipswich Town 3-1 Barnsley (McGoldrick)
Grant Ward has set this game alight. McGoldrick ensures some breathing space for Mick McCarthy’s side, converting from the penalty spot, just seconds after Ward’s low effort from distance found the net.
In League One, Kevin van Veen, once of PSV Eindhoven under Guus Hiddink, has equalised against Bristol Rovers while Grimsby have doubled their lead over Morecambe in League Two.
GOAL! Ipswich Town 2-1 Barnsley (Ward)
It’s Grant Ward, again! He’s having a stupidly fantastic debut. The former Tottenham youngster was a half-time substitute and scored with his first touch after 39 seconds.
It should be five for Norwich City, but Cameron Jerome cannot find his second of the afternoon. Down in League Two, Crawley are in front against Wycombe courtesy of Jimmy Smith. North of the border, Paul McGowan has grabbed Dundee’s third goal at Ross County. Paul Hartley’s side are not coping too badly without Kane Hemmings, are they?
GOAL! Blackburn 0-4 Norwich City (Naismith)
Half an hour still to go at Ewood Park but it’s going to be a truly embarrassing start to life at Blackburn for Owen Coyle regardless of what else happens there. As for Norwich, they’ve been untouchable and continue to showcase some of their Premier League class in the shape of the Scotland forward Naismith.
Will the Rams ring the changes? Will Hughes, Johnny Russell and Chris Martin are warming-up for Derby County against Brighton. Nigel Pearson’s side are not at the races yet while the returning hero, Glenn Murray, is yet to find an opening for the Seagulls.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 3-2 Burton Albion (Burke)
It was never going to be finished at two apiece, was it? Oliver Burke has the hosts back in front after good work from half-time substitute Patjim Kasami, formerly of Fulham.
Elsewhere, Wolves’ afternoon has worsened after Dominic Iorfa has been handed his first professional red card. Walter Zenga’s side remain 2-1 behind at Rotherham. In League Two, Blackpool have doubled their lead over Exeter.
GOAL! Ipswich Town 1-1 Barnsley (Hourihane)
Conor Hourihane with an instant reply for the newly-promoted Championship club. Just a minute after Ward’s opener on his debut, Hourihane smashes a volley into the net to pull the visitors level. Game on!
GOAL! Huddersfield 1-0 Brentford (Kachunga)
Elias Kachunga has his first goal in English football. The striker, who is on a season-long loan deal from German outfit Ingolstadt, has sent David Wagner’s side on their way to victory with a marvellous header.
GOAL! Ipswich Town 1-0 Barnsley (Ward)
The former Tottenham youngster puts Mick McCarthy’s side in front at Portman Road. Elsewhere in the Championship, Bristol City, who named four of their summer signings in the starting lineup, are yet to get going at home to Wigan Athletic. Tammy Abraham, who arrived on loan from Chelsea on Friday, is on the bench as well as the club captain Aaron Wilbraham.
Gillingham are in front at Southend, thanks to a Max Ehmer header. Also in League One, Byron Webster has scored a third goal for Millwall against Oldham Athletic. In the Scottish Premiership, Marvin Johnson has doubled Motherwell’s lead at Kilmarnock.
It’s half time around the grounds. It’s been a miserable introduction to English football for Wolves’ new manager Walter Zenga while Owen Coyle’s start to life at Blackburn Rovers has been nothing short of disastrous. Wigan, promoted from League One last season, look extremely bright at Bristol City and lead through Alex Gilbey. Jaap Stam will be hoping for more of the same from his Reading side in the second half too.
In League One, it’s been a good 45 minutes for Walsall and Oxford United, and not quite so good for Chris Wilder, whose reign at Sheffield United has started with a bump. Down in League Two, Yeovil are off to a flyer against Notts County while Blackpool, who had such a wretched season last term, are in front against Exeter City at Bloomfield Road.
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GOAL! Nottingham Forest 2-2 Burton Albion (Lam)
Forest are back level then at the City Ground. One of the new faces at the club, Thomas Lam, who signed from Dutch club Zwolle has found an equaliser on the brink of half time. It’s hard not to think there’s plenty more to come in this one.
In the Scottish Premiership, Loy has got his second goal for Dundee at Ross County. Motherwell lead Kilmarnock, who have had their manager, Lee Clark, sent to the stands after 10 minutes, so it’s not been a great afternoon for them so far.
In League Two, Portsmouth are back on level terms through summer signing Carl Baker. Carlisle are down to 10 men at Fratton Park, after Jamie Devitt picked up two yellow cards inside 32 minutes to make life somewhat difficult for Keith Curle’s side. Amazingly, there’s in excess of 17,000 fans again at Portsmouth today.
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GOAL! Rotherham 2-1 Wolves (Saville)
There’s a lifeline then for Walter Zenga in Yorkshire. Six minutes remain in the first half at Rotherham.
GOAL! Reading 1-0 Preston (Swift)
It’s taken John Swift just 35 minutes to grab his first competitive goal for the club. The creative midfielder, signed from Chelsea over the summer, has found the very top corner to put Jaap Stam’s side in front. Swift could prove a real steal for Reading, after he rejected a new contract at Stamford Bridge to become one of Stam’s nine summer signings.
Elsewhere, Bolton are ahead against Sheffield United, Walsall have doubled their advantage over AFC Wimbledon and Rochdale are back in front against Peterborough. There’s also a debut goal for QPR loanee Jay Emmanuel-Thomas at Gillingham.
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GOAL! Bristol City 0-1 Wigan Athletic (Gilbey)
Great play again by Grigg, who does really well to get away from Aden Flint. Wildschut holds the ball up before Gilbey, on his debut, fires home from outside the box after 32 minutes. Painstakingly for Robins head coach Lee Johnson, the former Colchester midfielder Gilbey was a transfer target for City over the summer.
Elsewhere, Wes Thomas has scored on his Oxford debut against Chesterfield, who have given Ched Evans a full debut at the Kassam Stadium.
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GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-2 Burton Albion (Lloyd Dyer)
It already feels like the biggest moment of the day. Lloyd Dyer has rattled home past Stephen Henderson and duly charges down the other end of the pitch to celebrate with the jubilant travelling fans. Eight years ago Burton were in the Conference.
Elsewhere, Matty Taylor has bagged his 50th Bristol Rovers goal away at Scunthorpe United while Accrington are back in front against Doncaster Rovers, courtesy of Matty Pearson’s second goal of the afternoon.
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GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burton Albion (Akins)
A famous goal for the visitors at the City Ground. Lucas Akins has scored his and his club’s maiden Championship goal. Also in the second-tier, Aaron Wildschut and Will Grigg are linking well for Wigan at Bristol City but it’s still 0-0 in the West Country.
GOAL! Blackburn 0-3 Norwich City (Jerome)
Owen Coyle is having a miserable first match in charge at Ewood Park. Jerome, who can only seemingly score goals regularly at this level, has surely already wrapped things up in Lancashire.
Peterborough have equalised at Rochdale through Chris Forrester. Elsewhere, Yeovil are in cruise control against Notts County, having scored two goals inside the opening 25 minutes and Southend are in front at home to Gillingham.
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GOAL! Rotherham 2-0 Wolves (Vaulks)
It’s going from bad to worse for Walter Zenga.
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-0 Burton Albion (Assombalonga)
It’s a good start for Phillipe Montanier. Lansbury’s shot was deflected into the box and eventually Assombalonga, who missed almost all of last season, slid in to seize the opportunity and put Forest in front.
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Portsmouth are behind at Fratton Park. Reggie Lambe has scored for Carlisle United to pile some unwanted pressure on Paul Cook after just 14 minutes. Elsewhere, Newport’s Jack Compton has levelled things up against Mansfield while Blackpool have taken the lead against Exeter.
GOAL! Blackburn 0-2 Norwich City (Hoolahan)
The midfielder has doubled Norwich’s lead after just 17 minutes at Ewood Park. It’s not the start Owen Coyle will have wanted but Alex Neil’s side are showing their class. Hoolahan weaved his way past a host of defenders before slotting home. They must think this Championship lark is easy!
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Some more early goals around in the lower leagues! Doncaster’s Tommy Rowe has cancelled out Accrington’s opener to pull them level, Millwall have are one-nil up against Oldham through a Lee Gregory penalty while Newport are losing at home to Mansfield, after Matt Green found the net.
In Scotland, Rory Loy has put Dundee ahead at Ross County. Earlier, Rangers were held to a draw against Hamilton Academical.
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GOAL! Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Norwich City (Jacob Murphy)
Great finish, and a fine start for Alex Neil’s side. Murphy, who spent last season on loan at Coventry City, has made an immediate impact after being named in the starting lineup today.
GOAL! Rotherham 1-0 Wolves (Danny Ward)
Walter Zenga will not be too happy about that. His frown can be seen from around the New York Stadium. It’s a great start for Alan Stubbs, though.
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Ipswich Town have gone close at Portman Road but Daryl Murphy scuffed his effort after being thread through by Kevin Bru. Elsewhere, Rochdale are a goal to the food against Peterborough while Rob Page’s Northampton are 1-0 up against Fleetwood Town.
It’s a brilliant start for Grimsby, who are back in the Football League after six years. They lead Morecambe 1-0 thanks to Kayden Jackson. In the Championship, Callum O’Dowda and Will Grigg have gone close for Bristol City and Wigan respectively at Ashton Gate. In League One, Erhun Oztumer, the pint-sized midfielder, has scored on his debut against AFC Wimbledon.
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Leyton Orient have taken the lead against Cheltenham Town inside three minutes, courtesy of the former Colchester striker Gavin Massey on his debut. The Essex club are also ahead, after Tom Eastman’s opener at Hartlepool. North of the border, Jason Cummings has scored for Hibernian at Falkirk.
Nottingham Forest against Burton Albion is undoubtedly one of the biggies in the Championship. It’s a sellout for the first meeting between the two clubs. Nigel Clough received a huge ovation from all four sides of the City Ground, before the first Trent derby between the two East Midlands sides. Hamza Choudhury, who agreed to re-sign on loan for Burton Albion yesterday, starts.
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Just a matter of seconds away now from the return of proper Saturday afternoons! Do get in touch over this wondrous afternoon.
Reading have made a lovely tribute to the late Eamonn Dolan at the Madejski Stadium. Dolan, the club’s academy coach, passed away after a battle with cancer in June. They’ve unveiled the Eamonn Dolan Stand at the stadium this afternoon.
Eamonn Dolan - one of our own.https://t.co/wT83fGGPl8
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 6, 2016
15 minutes to go. Players across the country are heading back down the tunnel before the long-awaited return of the 3pm kick-off. Is anybody destined to pick up three points today?
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In League Two, Milan Lalkovic makes his Portsmouth bow at Fratton Park against Carlisle. Elsewhere, Chris Eagles starts on the bench for Accrington Stanley at home to Doncaster Rovers. It’s a big day for Grimsby Town too, who are back in the Football League after a six-year hiatus. They host Morecambe this afternoon. Cheltenham have handed a debut to Easah Suliman, who arrived from Aston Villa only a couple of days ago. Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson is looking somewhat unrecognisable! Elsewhere, last season’s National League champions host Leyton Orient, who hand debuts to summer recruits Gavin Massey and Harry Cornick.
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In League One, Ched Evans makes his Chesterfield debut while Gboly Ariyibi also starts against Oxford United despite ongoing speculation surrounding his immediate future. The 21-year-old American impressed last season. Wes Thomas makes his debut for Michael Appleton’s side while Arsenal loanee Dan Crowley begins on the bench. Despite the loss of Kemar Roofe and Callum O’Dowda to Leeds and Bristol City respectively, they could be dark horses for successive promotions.
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Jeff Stelling has just given a big up yours to BT Sport on Sky Sports News. He’s poking fun at BT not starting their coverage of The Beautiful Game until next weekend, when Hull and Burnley get going. “Nothing like a bit of good healthy competition,” he parps. “I’ve just heard they’re not bothering until next week when the Premier League starts but in your own time, boys.”
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Full-time! Rangers 1-1 Hamilton Academical
Waghorn’s second-half equaliser ensures a draw on Rangers’ return to the Scottish Premiership.
Nigel Pearson has been speaking. “There’s still a few weeks to go before the window closes,” he says, with Derby County yet to sign anybody this summer. “It’s important to bring the right types of people in. It’s wrong to assume there won’t be any business.” They have quite the squad, though. Interestingly, Will Hughes and last season’s top-scorer Chris Martin are both on the bench this afternoon.
First email klaxon of the afternoon, courtesy of Simon McMahon. “The league season in Scotland also kicks off today as the world famous Dundee United FC welcome Queen of the South to Tannadice for the game of the day. New boss Ray McKinnon has brought much needed shape and focus to a team that lost their way badly last season, as well as half a dozen new signings who have experience and quality.
“Expect United to fight it out with Neil Lennon’s Hibs, who travel to Falkirk today, for automatic promotion. Elsewhere it’s Ayr v Raith, Dunfermline v Dumbarton and St. Mirren v Morton. In League Two Edinburgh City, after gaining promotion from the Lowland League last season, play their first ever senior league fixture at home to Forfar. Oh, and there are some Premiership fixtures too, but where’s the romance in that?”
Indeed, and it’s still Rangers 1-1 Hamilton Academical.
Some team news is flooding in from around the grounds. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, the Iceland striker, makes his Wolves debut at Rotherham’s wonderfully named New York Stadium. There’s a start for Brighton’s Glenn Murray while fellow summer signing Oliver Norwood begins on the bench against Derby, who name Darren Bent and Tom Ince in their starting eleven. At Ewood Park, Alex Pritchard starts life at Norwich City amongst the substitutes. And Will Grigg couldn’t get a run out at Euro 2016 but he starts for Wigan at Bristol City.
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To the Scottish Premiership, where there’s 15 minutes to play at Ibrox after Martyn Waghorn pulled a goal back for Rangers on the hour mark after good work from the substitute Harry Forrester to ensure an interesting finish. Ali Crawford had put Hamilton one-nil up. Joey Barton and Niko Redknapp Kranjcar, both made their debuts.
Preamble
Welcome back to football! In truth, the new season was kick-started on Friday night, with Fulham upsetting accumulators across land and sea after Rafa’s Newcastle imploded at Craven Cottage. But today there’s a real feast in store, a fine spread of matches – artisan dishes and greasy spoon classics to boot. In the Championship – the Third Best League In The World – Norwich and Derby are in action while yip yap Jaap Stam’s bow as Reading manager gets underway at home to Preston. Elsewhere, Bristol City tackle Will Grigg in an absolutely brand spanking looking Ashton Gate and Walter Zenga has left the Italian Alps and the rolling hills of Tuscany behind for Wolves’ trip to Rotherham.
Bolton start life in League One at home to Sheffield United, while AFC Wimbledon are in the Midlands to tackle Walsall. It’s a full programme of fixtures in League One and League Two, while Rangers got the ball rolling in Scotland against Hamilton over lunch. Portsmouth, obviously, are favourites again in the fourth-tier, who host Keith Curle’s impressive Carlisle at Fratton Park. After a summer recharging the batteries, Adebayo Akinfenwa’s just turned on Beast mode on approach to Crawley Town’s gorgeous Checkatrade Stadium. For Blackpool, relegated to League Two, surely it can only get better? They have Exeter City today, while fellow West Country side Yeovil Town host Notts County, who finished last term with a bump.
After weeks of sun-drenched pre-season friendlies, and things that frankly do not matter, it’s good to have the real stuff back. Alright, it was in the Big Bad Premier League but Odion Ighalo was on one of his two phones – with headphones plugged in – throughout Watford’s first match of pre-season at Woking.
So, what other good news can this good Saturday deliver? The good stuff is back. The football. This very blog is going to take in 37-odd matches across two different countries – crazy – and God knows what’s going to happen.
Kick-off: all whistles blow at 15:00 BST
Ben will be here soon.
