Summary

  • First Saturday of 2019-20 English Football League season

  • Freak Phillips goal gives Baggies victory at Forest

  • Relegated Fulham and Cardiff beaten at Barnsley and Wigan

  • Promoted Charlton win at Blackburn; wins for away sides Birmingham, Sheff Wed and QPR

  • Leyton Orient beat Cheltenham after tribute to Justin Edinburgh

  • League Two newcomers Salford City beat Stevenage 2-0 in first EFL match

  1. Second halfpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    Happy so far?

    Either way, we're only halfway there - games are getting back under way for the second half.

    Plenty can, and will, change. Fulham hope so anyway!

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    #bbcefl

    omg Ayobami: Just two home teams leading at half-time in Championship, League One and League Two #strange

  3. Wigan reveal new pie mascotpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    HT: Wigan 0-1 Cardiff

    Media caption,

    Wigan Athletic: Meet Wigan's new mascot, Crusty the Pie

    A new season means a new kit, new players and sometimes... a new mascot.

    Wigan Athletic have revealed a giant pie as theirs, with Crusty The Pie winning a competition among primary school pupils.

    It's making its debut this afternoon at the Latics' season opener against Cardiff.

    Local children Cayden, eight, and Neve, nine, designed and presented the quirky mascot: "We designed Crusty like this because everyone in Wigan loves pies," they said.

  4. Treat yourself to a quizpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    Jonathan Woodgate and Phillip CocuImage source, Getty Images/PA Media

    Believe it or not 19 English Football League clubs have appointed new bosses since the end of last season.

    Another will soon follow, with Sheffield Wednesday still searching for a permanent successor to Steve Bruce.

    But can you match the new coaches with the teams they are in charge of?

    You have four minutes to try to name all 19 clubs. Good luck!

  5. League Two half-time headlinespublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    • Carlisle are leading Crawley 2-1 at home while Plymouth are two up against Crewe.
    • Newport are two goals to the good at home against Mansfield.
    • A James Clarke goal has given Walsall the lead away at Northampton.
    • Leyton Orient are being held 0-0 at home against Cheltenham and Bradford are drawing against Cambridge with the same score.
  6. League One half-time headlinespublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    • League One new boys Lincoln City lead Accrington through Michael O'Connor's goal.
    • Fleetwood lead Peterborough 2-0 at London Road with early goals from Harry Souttar and Josh Morris.
    • Ipswich lead Burton 1-0 while Sunderland are a goal down at home against Oxford United
    • Tranmere are a goal down against Rochdale - Ian Henderson with the penalty for the Dale - and Bolton are drawing 0-0 at Wycombe despite being without many senior players.
  7. Championship half-time headlinespublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Joe Ralls celebratesImage source, PA Media
    • Six of the eight away sides are ahead.
    • Scott Parker's Fulham trail to Luke Thomas' strike at newly promoted Barnsley.
    • A Joe Ralls half-volley has Cardiff 1-0 up at Wigan.
    • Managerless Sheffield Wednesday lead by the same score at Reading thanks to Kadeem Harris' goal.
    • Kamil Grosicki has Grant McCann's Hull ahead in the battle of the new managers against Steve Cooper's Swansea.
    • Charlton, Birmingham, Millwall and QPR also lead.
  8. Postpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    Most, if not all, of our 15:00 BST kick-offs have reached half-time, so let's take a look at some of the headlines across the EFL after 45 minutes...

  9. CLOSE!published at 15:49 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Barnsley 1-0 Fulham

    Mike-Steven Bähre has been an absolute demon for Barnsley.

    But he strikes wide after getting the ball from Mallik Wilks - Fulham have been second best all over.

  10. goal

    GOAL: Blackburn 0-1 Charltonpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Ben Purrington (43 mins)

    It had been coming!

    Ben Purrington scored his first ever league goal in Charlton's League One play-off final victory and now he has his second on the first day of the new season.

    The wing-back gets onto the end of Jonny Williams' cross and the Addicks lead at Blackburn.

  11. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:41 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Blackburn 0-0 Charlton

    Charlton talisman Lyle Taylor is the latest to threaten Blackburn, his shot tipped away by Christian Walton.

    Lee Bowyer's side have been tipped for the drop by many but they're giving a good account of themselves here.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Barnsley 1-0 Fulham

    Maxime Le Marchand bookedImage source, PA Media

    31 minutes: Fulham defender Maxime Le Marchand goes in the book for a lunge on Cameron McGeehan.

    32 minutes: Le Marchand is substituted for Cyrus Christie.

    Scott Parker not afraid to make the big decisions when it's not working for his side.

  13. PENALTY APPEALpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Blackburn 0-0 Charlton

    It's been a quiet one at Ewood Park but Charlton throw their hands up hoping for a penalty as Jonny Williams' cross hits an outstretched arm.

    The ref seems well-placed though and says no. Blackburn are in the clear.

  14. goal

    GOAL: Millwall 1-0 Prestonpublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Jed Wallace (33 mins)

    Left footed volley into the top left hand corner from Jed Wallace.

    A cracking goal to give the Lions the lead.

  15. O's pay tribute to Edinburghpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Leyton Orient 0-0 Cheltenham

    It's still goalless at Brisbane Road, but regardless of what's happening on the pitch is pretty insignificant compared to the wonderful tribute made before the game to the late Leyton Orient boss Justin Edinburgh.

    Former Tottenham full-back Edinburgh died in June aged 49, five days after suffering a cardiac arrest during a visit to the gym and just over a month after leading Orient to the National League title.

    Two flags, including one paid for by money raised by two Cheltenham supporters' groups,were carried around the pitch before kick-off.

    A minute's silence was also held, while home supporters held up banners to create a "JE3" mosaic.

    Edinburgh flagImage source, Rex Features
    Justin Edinburgh tributeImage source, Rex Features
    Justin Edinburgh tributeImage source, Rex Features
  16. CLOSE!published at 15:36 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Stoke 0-1 QPR

    We know Nick Powell has talent in abundance and he nearly scores a fantastic half-volley to open his Stoke account.

    It's a good dig from the edge of the box and QPR stopper Joe Lumley looked pleased to see it fly wide of his post.

  17. Postpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Brentford 0-1 Birmingham

    The Bees must be thinking how on earth they are a goal down here.

    Just before going a goal down the home side hit the bar TWICE.

    Oh well I guess as the saying goes, you've got to take your chances.

  18. Postpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    That Sheffield Wednesday goal means five of the eight Championship matches are being led by the away team.

    That's a lot of home supporters feeling less optimistic about their side's prospects than they were 30 minutes ago!

    Barnsley are the only home side leading.

  19. goal

    GOAL: Reading 0-1 Sheff Wedpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Kadeem Harris (30 mins)

    Sheffield Wednesday hit the front at the Madejski Stadium.

    Kadeem Harris, a free transfer arrival from Cardiff, is played in on the left and calmly fires home from close range.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    #bbcefl

    Joe Gibney: My three pre-season EFL picks are all losing within 15 minutes of the opening day. At least there's still nine months to turn things around I suppose.