By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
The football
season returned in the grand manner on Saturday, with the start of the Sky Bet
Football League.
It all began
on Friday night in League One where David Weir made a winning start to his life
in full-time management. Weir guided
Sheffield United to a 2-1 victory in League One over football’s oldest
professional club, Notts County.
On Saturday,
it was the Championship that took centre stage.
Lancashire rivals Burnley and Bolton Wanderers fought out a 1-1 draw in
the lunchtime kick-off at Turf Moor.
Darren Pratley struck the leveller for the visitors to ensure there
wasn’t a repeat of their opening day defeat to Burnley 12 months ago.
It was a good
start for all of the three relegated clubs from the Premier League. QPR came from a goal down to see off
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Loftus Road.
Andy Johnson scored his first goal in 21 months (pictured) after a horrible year on
the sidelines through injury. There was
also an appearance from the often outspoken Joey Barton, who is believed to be
attempting to force a move away from Loftus Road before the shutting of the
transfer window.
Wigan are the
early leaders. They were very impressive
at Oakwell, smashing four goals past Barnsley.
Former Norwich pair Grant Holt and Leon Barnett were among the scorers,
as Owen Coyle made a brilliant start to his new management chapter in the
post-Premier League era for the Latics.
Like QPR,
Reading had to come from behind to claim all three points against Ipswich
Town. Their winning goal came from
midfielder Danny Guthrie in the second half.
The result of the day came at The Den.
Yeovil Town took all three points away from Millwall, courtesy of a late
winner from Ed Upson.
Bournemouth
also recorded a fine opening day victory, as Lewis Grabban’s first goals since
February were enough to overcome Charlton Athletic 2-1. Doncaster were beaten though 3-1 by
Blackpool. Tom Ince, who rejected a move
to Cardiff City earlier this summer, scored a stoppage time strike from 45
yards after goalkeeper Ross Turnbull was caught up the pitch as the home side
pressed for an equaliser.
In League
One, there was a lot of attention on Coventry City following the club’s
10-point deduction on Friday for entering liquidation. Their youngsters fought admirably at Crawley
Town and came from two goals down, but ultimately were beaten 3-2. Leyton Orient recorded the result of the day
as they hammered Carlisle United 5-1 at Brunton Park. Peterborough United recorded a narrow 1-0
home triumph over Swindon Town, whilst Wolves grabbed an away point in a 0-0
draw at Preston North End in their first game in the third tier after
back-to-back relegations.
After a
25-year absence from the Football League, Newport County made a flying
return. Chris Zebroksi found the net
twice in their convincing 4-1 victory at home to Accrington Stanley. It wasn’t the greatest of starts for fellow
returnees Mansfield Town, who lost 2-0 at Scunthorpe United. League Two pre-season favourites Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town shared a four-goal thriller and it was a miserable opening for
Portsmouth as they were routed 4-1 at home by Oxford United.
The newly
titled Scottish Premiership began on Friday night with a disappointing 0-0 draw
between Partick Thistle and Dundee United.
On Saturday, Inverness CT recorded a commanding 3-0 win over St Mirren,
whilst Aberdeen beat Kilmarnock 2-1.
Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes will go down in the record books as scoring the
first ever goal under the new organisation.
See above for
the sound clip of myself reading the full classified check of Saturday’s results.
NOTE: This was recorded before the full-time whistle of Celtic's match with Ross County in the Scottish Premiership
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