Took a deflection off the Villa wall on its way through from Fernando Forestieri, that one.

Corner to Wednesday, but once again the hosts are penalised for a foul inside the area on goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Villa captain Tommy Elphick goes into the book as he trips Gary Hooper on the edge of his own penalty area.

Dangerous area this for the hosts.

Into last few minutes of this first half.

Very little of note in terms of chances, but no shortage of effort from both sides.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Lots of firing shots from distance for Wednesday, but little end-product still.

Villa contently keeping the hosts at bay for the time being.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Sam Hutchinson becomes the first man in the book as he bizarrely seems to catch Leandro Bacuna's shorts as he tries to run through.

Hutchison collected 14 yellow cards last season, he's off and running in 2016-17 after 31 minutes.

Gone a bit sedate again after that clash of heads between Tommy Elphick and Steven Fletcher.

Fletcher has presumably gone down the tunnel to have some stitches put in. Wednesday replace him with Gary Hooper up top.

Image source, Rex Features

Off goes Sheffield Wednesday debutant Steven Fletcher for a while, it would appear, with blood visibly still pouring from his head.

Elphick is also bandaged up by the Villa medical staff, but will return to the action very shortly.

Postpublished at 22 mins

22 mins

Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Aston Villa

Oh dear, there's suddenly a lot of claret on show and I don't mean the shade of Villa's shirts.

Tommy Elphick and Steven Fletcher go full-blooded (sorry!) into an aerial challenge on the edge of Villa's box.

Both men down on the turf and this could be some delay as both have serious head wounds to tend to.

Still not a lot being shown here in attack by Villa.

Jordan Ayew tries to force something from deep, but his hopeful ball to the edge of the Wednesday area is easily cleared by Tom Lees.

Image source, Rex Features

Not very long by the looks of Carlos Carvalhal's expression now!

His side have started this one the brighter though. Nothing clear-cut as yet in terms of a goalscoring chance for either side.

Smiles and hugs all round on the touchline between the two managers before kick-off.

Wonder how long the strain of a Championship season will take to change those complexions?

Image source, Rex Features

Tommy Elphick called into action for the first time at the heart of Villa's defence.

An uncertain low ball into the area from Wednesday and Elphick scrambles behind for a corner.

Wednesday continuing to press, but an offside flag goes up along the edge of the six-yard box against Fernando Forestieri.

First corner for Wednesday as Steven Fletcher and Ross Wallace link up on the right.

Foul given though against the hosts as Tom Lees is adjudged to have caught Nathan Baker with an elbow.

Postpublished at 7 mins

7 mins

Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Aston Villa

Crunch! 

Villa's central midfield pairing of Gary Gardner and Ashley Westwood make themselves known on their opposite Wednesday numbers.

Their challenges are somewhat on the tardy side, but both go unpunished and Wednesday get the free-kick inside their own half.

Image source, PA

Cagey start so far between these two. Not much going on in either final third.

One thing that is apparent though is the noise from the Wednesday fans. They made an absolute racket at Wembley in the play-off final.

They probably haven't stopped singing all summer.

When the fixtures came out in June, this one raised a few eyebrows as one to look forward to.

It's been a while though since their last meeting...

Image source, PA

As the action gets under way at Hillsborough, one man who's not in the away side is Scott Sinclair.

The former Swansea and Manchester City man completed a move from Aston Villa to Celtic this morning.

He didn't have much time to hang around though as his new team-mates were in action against Hearts.

Well, wasting no time at all, Sinclair went and scored the winner nine minutes from time for his new side and duly ensured they opened up their Scottish Premier League campaign with three points.

And off we go.

Can Villa get new boss Roberto di Matteo off to a winning start?

Image source, Rex Features

Here come the two sides on to the Hillsborough turf to the sound of Simple Minds' Waterfront.

Ear-piercing noise to say the least.

Don't forget, we'd love to hear from you throughout this season.

Join in the conversation using #bbcefl, external on Twitter and let us know how you think these two sides will fare in the Championship.

Top six contenders or also-rans?