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. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    We've had a couple games across the EFL already but this is the big kick-off!

    Thirty games for us to keep across all at once.

    Welcome back to football Saturdays and good luck to whoever you support.

  2. Your EFL season predictionspublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    Leeds celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    More than 141,000 of you used BBC Sport's promotion predictor to tell us who you think will go up from the three EFL divisions, and this is what you said...

    Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham are most likely to be promoted to the Premier League this season.

    You backed Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich to go up from League One, with Plymouth, Bradford, Salford and Mansfield to gain promotion from League Two.

    We also had a go - read our promotion picks and see whether you agree.

  3. Stat attackpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Jackett required on opening day

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    Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth are at Shrewsbury today hoping to extend that record.

  4. Cheltenham fans pay tribute to late O's boss Edinburghpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Leyton Orient v Cheltenham (15:00 BST)

    It's sure to be an emotional day in east London on what should have been a day of celebration for Leyton Orient.

    The O's are back in the EFL after two years away only for the man who guided them to promotion, Justin Edinburgh, to sadly pass away after suffering a heart attack earlier this summer.

    Tributes are set to be paid to Edinburgh ahead of kick-off, including one from visiting side Cheltenham, whose fans have had a giant flag made in his honour.

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  5. Coventry dealing with 'unprecedented' challengepublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Coventry v Southend (15:00 BST)

    Mark RobinsImage source, Getty Images

    I promise this is the last 'doom and gloom' post before we get into that new-season spirit, but it's important not to forget a third League One side who have also gone through a summer of upheaval.

    Coventry will play their home games at Birmingham's St Andrew's this season after failing to agree a new deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena, and they 'host' Southend this afternoon.

    "The challenges that we have been given this season are unprecedented. There are significant challenges for me as a manager, for us as a football club and logistically through trying to get people to watch us and be interested in what we are doing," said Sky Blues boss Mark Robins.

  6. Weir & Earl join Bolton on opening daypublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    However, there has been some better news for Bolton this afternoon as they have just announced the signings of midfielder James Weir, Preston defender Josh Earl on loan and have given a new deal to Harry Brockbank.

    Weir & Earl join Bolton on opening day

    Bolton Wanderers sign midfielder James Weir, Preston defender Josh Earl on loan and give a new deal to Harry Brockbank.

    Read More
  7. Bolton travel with three senior outfield playerspublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Wycombe v Bolton (15:00 BST)

    BoltonImage source, Getty Images

    It's almost as bleak at Bury's League One neighbours Bolton, who yesterday travelled with just three senior outfield players to their opener against Wycombe.

    The Trotters went into administration in May while a protracted takeover of the club is still to be completed.

    Three of Bolton's pre-season games were cancelled, with players saying they had not been paid for five months prior to a planned match against Chester.

    A takeover of the club by Football Ventures was due to be completed at the end of last week but, on the first day of the new season, is still yet to go through.

  8. Bury have second game suspendedpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    Gigg LaneImage source, Getty Images

    Spare a thought for fans of Bury and MK Dons, who do not have that first-day-of-the-season feeling today.

    Financial problems have rocked Bury over the past year and it's got worse, with news on Friday that their second League One game of the season, away at Accrington Stanley on Saturday, 10 August, has also been suspended by the English Football League.

  9. Debuts galore... and missing starspublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    The first day of a new season is always a chance to see new faces in action for your club for the first time.

    But with transfer deadline day looming on Thursday, it's also a time when star names can disappear from the teamsheet.

    One team to see that happen today is Southend, with midfielder Dru Yearwood's name conspicuous by it's absence from their line-up.

    Championship side Brentford is his rumoured destination.

  10. Saturday's League Two matchespublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Kick-off at 15:00 BST

    • 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
    • Scunthorpe v Swindon
  11. Saturday's League One gamespublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Kick-off at 15:00 BST

    • 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
  12. Saturday's Championship fixturespublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Kick-off at 15:00 BST unless stated

    • 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
  13. Postpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Saturday's EFL action

    That's game one out of the way but we still have 31 EFL matches to come today, so we better start turning our attention to them...

  14. 'We want to keep driving forward'published at 14:33 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Quote Message

    We know Emmanuel's capable - he's such a big lad with such good feet. Now we're here we want to keep driving the club forward

    Adam Rooney, Salford captain told Sky Sports

  15. 'I hope Scholes thought it was good'published at 14:31 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Quote Message

    I think the boys were excellent. I hope Paul Scholes thought it was a good performance - everyone gave all they could

    Emmanuel Dieseruvwe, Salford striker told Sky Sports

  16. FULL-TIMEpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Salford celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Salford City are deserved winners in their first-ever Football League match.

    Emmanuel Dieseruvwe scored in each half for the hosts, who can name David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes among their co-owners.

    Stevenage were competitive in the first half but lacked firepower.

  17. Postpublished at 90+5 mins

    Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Almost there, into the last minute of added time.

    We'll then be building up to the eagerly-awaited 15:00 BST matches.

  18. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    It's a shame this League Two opener has been such an anti-climax since Emmanuel Dieseruvwe's second goal just after the break.

    But it's credit to how Salford have handled this big occasion.

    Stevenage have a lot of new faces to bed in, so we can't properly judge them yet.

  19. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90+1 mins

    Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Five minutes added on - we could all do without that.

    If this was a boxing match I think Stevenage boss Dino Maamria might've thrown in the towel by now.

    Tom Soares' latest ailment is a cut to the face...

  20. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 90 mins

    Salford 2-0 Stevenage

    Emanuel Dieseruvwe celebrates his second goalImage source, Rex Features

    That's a nice touch from Salford boss Graham Alexander.

    He takes off two-goal striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe so he can receive a standing ovation from the home fans, with Oscar Threlkeld on in his place.