Cardiff boss Mick McCarthy was happy to see fans back in the stadium but distraught his side could not deliver a winning start to the Sky Bet Championship campaign.The game against Barnsley ended in a 1-1 draw after goals from Marlon Pack and Toby Sibbick.“It was emotional and having fans back in was great, it was a shame we couldn’t turn it into a win,” said McCarthy.“Yo...Full Story »

Wayne Rooney was happy to see his last-minute team selection pay off after Derby claimed a hard-fought point against Huddersfield.Rooney only decided what his team would be on the morning of the game and was delighted with the way they responded.Considering the transfer embargo and the restrictions Rooney has been working under, Derby started well and created several half-chances with Louie Wats...Full Story »

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley praised his Championship newcomers for never giving up after Shayne Lavery’s stoppage time strike had earned a battling point at Ashton Gate.The newly-promoted visitors looked to be heading for certain defeat until Lavery got on the end of a low cross from fellow substitute Josh Bowler to fire past Dan Bentley from close range.The goal was a sickener for City ...Full Story »

Ian Evatt was indebted to veteran defender Alex Baptiste for Bolton’s late point but believed his team did enough to mark their return to Sky Bet League One with an opening-day victory.Baptiste’s equaliser in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage-time ended a roller-coaster contest that saw managerless MK Dons go 1-0 up, trail 2-1 and lead 3-2 before conceding in Wanderers’ ...Full Story »

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke admitted he was frustrated by his side’s performance in their Sky Bet League Two opening day defeat to Northampton.Vale started well at Sixfields but fell behind to Benny Ashley-Seal’s close-range finish against the run of play midway through the first half.The visitors were then unable to recover from Lucas Covolan’s red card early in the secon...Full Story »

Micky Mellon was impressed with what he saw from Tranmere as they opened the season with a 1-0 win over Walsall, in a game that saw Premier League referee Mike Dean officiate his own team.Rovers fan Dean stepped out of the home stands after half time when an assistant referee pulled his hamstring and, after consulting the Walsall bench, took over as fourth official.Callum McManaman stroked home ...Full Story »

Michael Duff expects Cheltenham to have some tough days ahead during their first League One campaign in 12 years.But the Robins started off with a point from a 1-1 draw at Crewe after Andy Williams and Mikael Mandron traded first-half goals.Loyalty to the squad which won the League Two title last term and a lack of resources has meant Duff has not been the busiest manager in this summer’s ...Full Story »

Luton boss Nathan Jones hailed his summer signings after a dominant opening-day performance secured a 3-0 win over Peterborough.New arrival Fred Onyedinma was the star of the show with two assists for Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick, while also finding the target himself with 20 minutes remaining to seal a superb debut outing.Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “Fred was brilliant, absolutel...Full Story »

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill praised his side’s character after a thrilling 3-2 win against Reading.The Potters were twice pegged back as goals from Nick Powell and Jacob Brown were cancelled out by John Swift and Liam Moore, but debutant Sam Surridge came off the bench to grab a late winner in an entertaining encounter at the Bet365 Stadium.It is the first time since 2009 that Stoke h...Full Story »

Stevenage got their Sky Bet League Two campaign off to the perfect start with a dogged 1-0 win over Barrow at a raucous Lamex Stadium.Jake Reeves got the only goal of the game just moments into the second half, crashing home Jamie Reid’s excellent cross to send the Stevenage faithful into raptures.Barrow could count themselves slightly unlucky not to get a point from the entertaining encou...Full Story »

Partick Thistle made it two wins from their opening two matches with a dominant 3-0 win at Dunfermline.The visitors took a seventh-minute lead when Ross Docherty headed in a Kyle Turner cross.It did not take long for Thistle to double their lead, with Kevin Holt heading home another inviting cross from Turner in the 22nd minute.Dunfermline’s Ross Graham put through his own net in the 78th ...Full Story »

Kilmarnock snatched a late 1-0 win at Queen of the South to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Scottish Championship season.Jason Naismith struck in time added on to ensure Killie kept pace with Partick Thistle and Inverness at the top of the fledgling table.Naismith fired low into the net when Rumarn Burrell slid him in.Liam Polworth had a first-half goal ruled out for offside for the vis...Full Story »

Rotherham manager Paul Warne said he was “pleased but not ecstatic” after his team swept aside Plymouth 2-0 in Sky Bet League One.The Millers had a two-goal cushion by the break and could afford to take their foot off the gas a little in the second half.Freddie Ladapo poked in the opener against his former club after reacting quickest to a goalmouth scramble from a corner.Ben Wiles d...Full Story »

Fuming Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton criticised referee Josh Smith after his 10-man side lost 2-1 to Mansfield after a late penalty.The game was level at 1-1 when Paul Coutts was sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Danny Johnson in the 77th minute.The Stags then won it six minutes into stoppage-time as Johnson scored from the spot after Mark Hughes had tugged Oli Hawkins.“We ...Full Story »

Both teams scored brilliant goals in a breathless first half as QPR and Millwall drew 1-1 in the Sky Bet Championship at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.The visitors had the better of the first 45 minutes and Jed Wallace gave them a deserved lead before Rob Dickie’s strike hauled Rangers level.Many Millwall fans booed the pre-match taking of a knee – although the anti-racism gest...Full Story »

A goal in each half helped Blackburn to a 2-1 opening-day Championship victory over Swansea in manager Russell Martin first game in charge of the visitors.In an end-to-end encounter, last season’s beaten play-off finalists were the architects of their own downfall, contributing to both Blackburn’s goals.The hosts pressed Swansea with purpose and were rewarded in the 36th minute throu...Full Story »

Northampton got their Sky Bet League Two season up and running with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over 10-man Port Vale at Sixfields.The Cobblers fielded eight debutants but it was an old name that scored the only goal of the game as Benny Ashley-Seal’s first-half strike ultimately proved the difference.Vale started on top but they fell behind in the 23rd minute when a long throw into their bo...Full Story »

Naby Sarr’s strike denied Derby victory in their Sky Bet Championship clash with Huddersfield at Pride Park.Curtis Davies had earlier celebrated his return to Derby when opening the scoring.The 36-year-old defender, who only signed on Friday having spent the end of last season with the club, forced the ball over the line following a corner but Huddersfield quickly replied through Sarr to t...Full Story »

Ebou Adams’ stoppage-time winner broke the hearts of League newcomers Sutton as Forest Green started life under new boss Rob Edwards with a 2-1 victory.Sutton started brightly enough in their first shot at League football in their 123-year history.Omar Bugiel was a threat against his former club and only a last-ditch foul from Jordan Moore-Taylor snuffed out his buccaneering run on goal.Ho...Full Story »

Defender Alex Baptiste snatched a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to earn Sky Bet League One new boys Bolton a thrilling 3-3 draw with managerless MK Dons.Substitute Hiram Boateng appeared to seal a comeback win for the Dons who led 1-0, trailed 2-1 and then levelled with 23 minutes remaining.Instead, in the final extra minute, veteran Baptiste converted from close range to earn the home side d...Full Story »