Along with the Premier League, the 2015/16 SkyBet Championship kicked off on the weekend.
Promoted MK Dons started with a surprising 4-1 victory at over Rotherham United at New York Stadium thanks to goals from Bolton loanee Rob Hall, Dean Bowditch, Carl Baker and an own-goal from Danny Collins while Matt Derbyshire was on target for the Millers.
Another Dons loanee, Southampton's Sam Gallagher, also impressed with a pair of assists.
Rotherham United: 1 (Matt Derbyshire 13')
MK Dons: 4 (Rob Hall 5', Danny Collins (OG) 28', Dean Bowditch 35', Carl Baker 75')
New York Stadium, Rotherham - 9,869
Check out a gallery of pictures as the Dons start life in the
@SkyBetChamp in style: http://t.co/JdxOpABLo4pic.twitter.com/Whfx0fm10e
— MK Dons FC (@MKDonsFC)
August 10, 2015
On Friday night, Brighton & Hove Albion kicked off the campaign with a narrow 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest courtesy of Kazenga LuaLua's superb strike in the 50th minute.
Brighton & Hove Albion: 1 (Kazenga LuaLua 50')
Nottingham Forest: 0
Amex Stadium, Brighton - 24,623
ACTION: Moments from last night's 1-0 win for
@OfficialBHAFC over @Official_NFFC in the season opener #FLKickOffpic.twitter.com/8lillCSV82
— The Football League (@football_league)
August 8, 2015
Cardiff City and Fulham drew 1-1 in South Wales with Craig Noone coming off the bench to cancel out Matt Smith's opener with a stunning 25-yard strike in the 86th minute.
Cardiff City: 1 (Craig Noone 86')
Fulham: 1 (Matt Smith 47')
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff - 15,429
Check out Smith's goal below from 0:50 and Noone's from 1:34.
Our
@SkyBetChamp Goal of the Weekend was this stunning strike by @CardiffCityFC winger @craignoone. Watch it here… https://t.co/MvuHk8I6am
— Shoot (@_shootfootball)
August 10, 2015
Leeds United held relegated Burnley to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road with late goals from Mirco Antenucci and Sam Vokes.
Leeds United: 1 (Mirco Antenucci 83')
Burnley: 1 (Sam Vokes 86')
Elland Road, Leeds - 27,672
Saturday's attendance of 27,672 was the highest of the
@SkyBetChamp's opening weekend. Fantastic support! #lufcpic.twitter.com/gCjku7blFf
— Leeds United FC (@LUFC)
August 10, 2015
Birmingham City netted close to both sides of the break to defeat Reading 2-1 at St Andrew's with goals from David Cotterill and Arsenal loanee Jon Toral before Nick Blackman pulled one back for the Royals in the 58th minute.
Birmingham City: 2 (David Cotterill 40', Jon Toral 47')
Reading: 1 (Nick Blackman 58')
St Andrew's, Birmingham - 19,171
GALLERY: See a selection of images from yesterday's win on
http://t.co/msWvrYX7SN: http://t.co/W83WvqTBmk#BCFCpic.twitter.com/JXrhHuWn1g
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC)
August 9, 2015
Blackburn Rovers were beaten at Ewood Park 2-1 by Wolves who scored either side of the home team's equaliser from Craig Conway.
Blackburn Rovers: 1 (Craig Conway 39')
Wolves: 2 (Benik Afobe 29', David Edwards 45')
Ewood Park, Blackburn - 16,159
WATCH | Two minutes of highlights from yesterday's win on You Tube -
https://t.co/dZ0dg9eGyvpic.twitter.com/U9jYPT1S4D
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves)
August 9, 2015
Bolton Wanderers and Derby County played out a scoreless draw at Macron Stadium with Trotters midfielder Jay Spearing seeing red late in the piece.
Bolton: 0 (red card: Jay Spearing 86')
Derby County: 0
Macron Stadium, Bolton - 17,162
Curse that crossbar! The best photos from
#BWFC's 0-0 @SkyBetChamp draw against @dcfcofficial: http://t.co/hq9lIm4fezpic.twitter.com/kXlu370QRa
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC)
August 9, 2015
Brentford secured a wonderful point thanks to injury-times goals from Andre Gray and James Tarkowski to force a 2-2 draw after Ipswich Town.
Brentford: 2 (Andre Gray 90+2', James Tarkowski 90+6')
Ipswich Town: 2 (Kevin Bru 45', Ryan Fraser 50')
Griffin Park, Brentford - 10,789
Charlton Athletic heaped more misery on QPR, who dropped down from the Premier League, with a 2-0 result at The Valley.
Charlton Athletic: 2 (Tony Watt 52', Morgan Fox 72')
QPR: 0
The Valley, London - 19,469
YOUTUBE | Watch all the key incidents from yesterday's 2-0 opening-day victory over
@QPRFChttps://t.co/9yyN0HlEa8#cafc
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial)
August 9, 2015
Hull City began life in the second division brightly with a solid 2-0 home triumph over Huddersfield Town thanks to goals from summer signing Sam Clucas and Arsenal loanee Chuba Akpom.
Hull City: 2 (Sam Clucas 39', Chuba Akpom 71')
Huddersfield Town: 0
KC Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull - 19,361
YOUTUBE: Highlights from yesterday's 2-0 win against
@htafcdotcomhttps://t.co/2VHWvirbB8
— Hull City (@HullCity)
August 9, 2015
Sheffield Wednesday got things started with a 2-0 result at home over Bristol City.
Sheffield Wednesday: 2 (Tom Lees 60', Lewis McGugan 71')
Bristol City: 0
Hillsborough, Sheffield - 23,255
Watch our extended highlights from the opening day win over
@bcfctweets here! https://t.co/dTanI4fgzi#swfc
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc)
August 9, 2015
And on Sunday, Preston North End and Middlesbrough drew 0-0 at Deepdale.
Preston North End: 0
Middlesbrough: 0
Deepdale, Preston - 15,974
Highlights from yesterday's Championship opener at Deepdale against
@Boro are now on our YouTube channel. https://t.co/jYZwo1BqgB
— pnefc (@pnefc)
August 10, 2015