Summary

  • Luton drew with Middlesbrough in the first match of 2019-20 English Football League season

  • Ashley Fletcher headed an early Middlesbrough opener from six yards

  • Sonny Bradley's 25-yard screamer brought Luton level, Martin Cranie headed Hatters in front

  • Luton goalkeeper Simon Sluga fumbled Britt Assombalonga's tame shot into net for 2-2

  • Lewis Wing restored Boro's advantage with curling long-range effort

  • James Collins equalised again for home side with five minutes left

  1. Ridgewell signs deal with Southendpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Here's a bit more on Liam Ridgewell's move to League One side Southend United on a one-year deal.

    He'll certainly add experience to their defence.

    Ridgewell signs deal with Southend

    League One side Southend United sign defender Liam Ridgewell who was a free agent after leaving Hull City.

    Read More
  2. Who has made the biggest signings?published at 10:27 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Anthony Knockaert (left), Pontus Jansson (centre) and Helder CostaImage source, Getty Images and PA

    Some of the bigger-name summer signings coming in to the Championship have included Fulham's loan move for Brighton winger Anthony Knockaert, Brentford's signing of centre-back Pontus Jansson from Leeds and the latter's addition of Wolves forward Helder Costa.

    Cardiff signed centre-back Aden Flint from Middlesbrough, while West Brom purchased striker Kenneth Zohore from the Bluebirds for an undisclosed fee.

    Elsewhere, Bristol City broke their transfer record to sign Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas, while Birmingham spent a reported £6.3m on Croatia midfielder Ivan Sunjic.

    You can find our full lists of every transfer from June here, July here and August here.

  3. get involved

    Get Involved #bbceflpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Which EFL clubs will be promoted this season?

    Paul Brace: Leeds to go up with Bielsa at the helm. Tight knit squad and for sure to be the fittest with pure attacking football.

    Danny Hutchinson: Simply impossible to predict... Way too competitive unlike the Premier League. Bring on the football!

    Michael Cramp: Fulham, Portsmouth, Walsall

    Alan Bond: Fulham, Sunderland, Exeter

  4. Swansea sign Sweden forward Petersonpublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
    Breaking

    Kristoffer PetersonImage source, Getty Images

    Could this be a replacement for Swansea striker Oli McBurnie, who is thought to be close to a £20m move to Sheffield United?

    The Swans have signed Sweden forward Kristoffer Peterson from Dutch club Heracles for a fee thought to be worth around £500,000 rising to £1m.

    You can read more on the deal here.

  5. 'It's crazy how tight it could be'published at 10:12 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Stephen Kelly
    Former Reading and Fulham defender told BBC Radio 5 Live

    There just seem to be so many teams on an even keel in the Championship.

    A lot more teams I think can push - 15 teams will think they can be in the top six - it's crazy how tight it could be this season.

    You can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's 90-minute EFL preview show on BBC Sounds.

  6. get involved

    Get Involved #bbceflpublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Which EFL clubs will be promoted this season?

    Only 10 of the 72 EFL clubs will win promotion this season - who will they be and why?

    Give us your predictions for the Championship, League One or League Two using #bbcefl on social media.

    Remember to let us know who you support too, we don't want too much bias!

  7. New Fleetwood signing klaxon!published at 10:03 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    It's not just new players being announced by clubs across the EFL today. Oh no!

    Fleetwood have just appointed a new club doctor, who is sure to keep Joey Barton's squad healthy this season.

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  8. Optimism for Oxford Unitedpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Jerome Sale
    BBC Radio Oxford

    This week, the entire mood around Oxford United completely changed.

    At the weekend they’d gone five pre-season games without a win and it became clear they were selling Northern Ireland international Gavin Whyte. Despite finishing last season like a train, fans’ chins were on the floor.

    Since Tuesday though, Oxford have become very active in the transfer market, with Liverpool’s Ben Woodburn among those signed.

    Key defender Rob Dickie signed a new contract and manager Karl Robinson agreed a longer deal. Oxford have a difficult start at favourites Sunderland, but there’s some optimism now.

    Karl RobinsonImage source, Rex Features
  9. MK Dons look to build on promotion momentumpublished at 09:55 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Geoff Doyle
    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    After gaining promotion from League Two at their first attempt MK Dons can make a real impact in League One as well.

    Despite losing the talented forward Chuks Aneke, the signing of striker Rhys Healey from Cardiff after a successful loan spell last season is a real coup and winger Brennan Dickenson from Colchester is another exciting addition.

    Regan Poole, who had a good spell on loan at Newport last season, will offer the Dons good cover in defence and Hiram Boateng should improve the midfield.

    Defensively sound, Paul Tisdale’s side should be pushing for the play-offs this season.

    Paul TisdaleImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 09:53 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    While we're on the topic of League One, let's hear from a couple of our local radio reporters on how a couple of the clubs could get on this season...

  11. Southend sign ex-Birmingham defender Ridgewellpublished at 09:48 British Summer Time 2 August 2019
    Breaking

    Liam RidgewellImage source, Rex Features

    League One side Southend United have signed former Birmingham, Aston Villa and West Brom centre-back Liam Ridgewell on a one-year deal.

    The 35-year-old ended last season at Hull, having spent several years playing in America.

    Not a bad way to get us started on the transfer front!

  12. 10 hours to go!published at 09:45 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Luton fansImage source, Getty Images

    Don't worry we're not going to bother you with a minute-by-minute countdown to 19:45 BST, but we are now just 10 hours away from the big EFL kick-off between Luton and Middlesbrough tonight.

    And the first EFL transfer of the day has gone through. More on that in a moment, but it's a name you might recognise...

  13. 'Every season is unbelievable'published at 09:41 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Gary Rowett
    Former Stoke, Derby and Birmingham boss told BBC Radio 5 Live

    That's the problem with the Championship - every season you go 'this is going to be an unbelievable season once more'.

    I don't think this year is going to disappoint.

    You can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's 90-minute EFL preview show on BBC Sounds.

  14. 'We wanted players but it's not happened'published at 09:36 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Our Friday manager press conferences are already up and running, with Ipswich boss Paul Lambert speaking to the local media before their League One opener at Burton.

    The former Aston Villa and Norwich manager doesn't seem entirely happy with his side's transfer business so far...

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  15. Anderlecht interested in Leeds striker Roofepublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    Kemar RoofeImage source, Getty Images

    Belgian club Anderlecht are keen on Leeds striker Kemar Roofe.

    New Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany is in the process of reshaping his squad and views Roofe as, potentially, a positive addition.

    Roofe is currently sidelined with an ankle injury he sustained on the Championship club’s pre-season tour of Australia.

    The 26-year-old was a key figure in Leeds’ excellent season under Marcelo Bielsa last term, scoring 15 times, including the winner in the Championship play-off semi-final first-leg victory at Derby, only to miss the return game due to a calf problem.

  16. Postpublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Leeds fans, stand by.

    We have some potentially big transfer news for you, and I'm afraid it might not be good...

  17. League Two's opening weekendpublished at 09:25 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Kick-offs at 15:00 BST on Saturday unless stated

    • Bradford v Cambridge
    • Carlisle v Crawley
    • Colchester v Port Vale
    • Crewe v Plymouth
    • Exeter v Macclesfield
    • Forest Green v Oldham
    • Leyton Orient v Cheltenham
    • Morecambe v Grimsby
    • Newport v Mansfield
    • Northampton v Walsall
    • Salford v Stevenage (12:30 BST)
    • Scunthorpe v Swindon
  18. League One's opening weekendpublished at 09:22 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Kick-offs at 15:00 BST on Saturday

    • AFC Wimbledon v Rotherham
    • Blackpool v Bristol Rovers
    • Burton v Ipswich
    • Coventry v Southend
    • Doncaster v Gillingham
    • Lincoln v Accrington
    • Peterborough v Fleetwood
    • Shrewsbury v Portsmouth
    • Sunderland v Oxford
    • Tranmere v Rochdale
    • Wycombe v Bolton
  19. The Championship's opening weekendpublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    Kick-offs at 15:00 BST unless stated

    Friday

    • Luton v Middlesbrough (19:45 BST)

    Saturday

    • Barnsley v Fulham
    • Blackburn v Charlton
    • Brentford v Birmingham
    • Millwall v Preston
    • Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion (17:30 BST)
    • Reading v Sheffield Wednesday
    • Stoke v QPR
    • Swansea v Hull
    • Wigan v Cardiff

    Sunday

    • Bristol City v Leeds (16:30 BST)

    Monday

    • Huddersfield v Derby (19:45 BST)
  20. Postpublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 2 August 2019

    We all feel like little kids on Christmas Eve - giddy with excitement - but what have we actually got to look forward to across the EFL this weekend?

    Here are your fixture lists just to whet the appetite...