Newly relegated Sheffield Wednesday started their League One campaign with a 2-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge. An own goal from the defender Scott Doe gave Wednesday a 14th-minute lead after he deflected Gilles Coke's shot into the net.
Two minutes later Coke's fellow debutant Clinton Morrison struck from close range to double the lead and confirm defeat for the Daggers in their first ever game in the third tier.
Luke Summerfield scored a second-half winner to get Peter Reid's Plymouth Argyle reign off to a victorious start with a 1-0 win against the title favourites Southampton at St Mary's. The midfielder struck in the 47th minute with a clinical right-foot finish from close range after Rory Fallon and Steve MacLean had combined to set him up.
Peterborough breezed to a 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers to get their bid for an instant return to the Championship off to an impressive start. George Boyd broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a low shot past the Rovers keeper Mikkel Andersen. Aaron McLean made it 2-0 and the captain Grant McCann added a third with a classy free-kick.
Akpo Sodje's goal ensured 10-man Charlton Athletic launched the new season with 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Valley. Charlton went ahead in the 22nd minute when Kyel Reid's low cross was fired past the visiting keeper Shwan Jalal by Sodje from six yards. Charlton's Jose Semedo received a red card for raising his studs on Michael Symes.
Anthony Pilkington struck twice as well-fancied Huddersfield cruised to a 3-0 victory at Notts County. Pilkington rifled a shot into the top corner from an acute angle before Jordan Rhodes doubled Town's advantage when he tucked away Joe Garner's pass. Pilkington's sweetly struck shot from the edge of the area completed the scoring late on.
Gary Madine and Ian Harte ensured a miserable start to the season for Brentford as Carlisle coasted to a 2-0 victory. The west London side made the 600-mile round trip for the second successive opening day but could not repeat last season's victory. Madine fired Carlisle ahead from Sean McDaid's cross before Harte crashed in a penalty.
Richard Logan's late strike secured a point for Exeter City after three goals in the first 11 minutes had got their opener with Colchester off to a thrilling start. Daniel Nardiello won a penalty for Exeter that Ryan Harley tucked away, but Anthony Wordsworth equalised with a header and then cracked in a stunning free-kick. However, the substitute Logan's instinctive finish ensured honours ended even.
Rochdale had to settle for a point on their long-awaited return to the third tier after being held to a goalless draw by Hartlepool.
Matt Sparrow scored twice on his debut to make it a happy return to Swindon for the Brighton & Hove Albion manager Gus Poyet, who oversaw a 2-1 win over the club where he was assistant manager four years ago. Sparrow struck from 20 yards in the 18th minute and rounded goalkeeper Phil Smith in the 74th minute before Swindon hit back through Charlie Austin.
Paul Dickov enjoyed a winning start in management as two goals from the midfielder Dale Stephens secured Oldham a 2-1 victory at Tranmere. Stephens wrong-footed the Rovers goalkeeper Gunnar Nielson with a free-kick in the first half and Oldham doubled their lead after the break from 20 yards. Ian Thomas-Moore headed a consolation for Tranmere.
Karl Robinson saw his managerial career get off to a flyer as goals from Sam Baldock and Danny Woodards gave his MK Dons side victory at Walsall. Luke Chadwick squared for Baldock to flick the visitors ahead before Manny Smith headed Walsall level. But the Dons claimed the points on the hour courtesy of Woodards's stooping header.
Russell Slade endured a rotten return to Yeovil Town as Leyton Orient fell to a 2-1 defeat. The former Glovers manager saw his side recover from Dean Bowditch's early strike to level through their new signing Alex Revell. But Town secured the points when the Orient keeper Jamie Jones fumbled and Luke Freeman scrambled a winner.
Comments in chronological order (Total 2 comments)
9 August 2010 12:36AM
Good old Rory Fallon, good knock down for the goal. He'll have a bit more leeway in League One as opposed to being whistled out of games at the World Cup.
9 August 2010 3:30AM
Nice to see Brighton's old-boys in the goals. Alex Revell here, and Jake Robinson with the season's first hat-trick. Now if only Joe Gatting could buy a run in the county championship...