Summary

  • Bournemouth and Norwich won on their return to the Championship after being relegated last season

  • Birmingham and Rotherham registered 1-0 wins over Brentford and Wycombe respectively in early Championship kick-offs

  • Harrogate win 4-0 at Southend on EFL debut, fellow newcomers Barrow held at home by Stevenage

  1. CLOSE!published at 14:02 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Another chance for the Bees as the visitors are starting to find their swagger and verve.

    A lovely through ball from Josh Dasilva puts Bryan Mbeumo in behind the Blues defence.

    But the forward drags his right-footed effort across goal and wide.

  2. Postpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Roger Johnson
    Former Birmingham defender on BBC Radio WM

    What a save from Jeacock! He made himself nice and big like Peter Schmeichel in the 1990s. That will give him confidence.

  3. GREAT SAVE!published at 13:58 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Birmingham are living on the edge.

    Keeper Zach Jeacock makes a brilliant save to deny Emiliano Marcondes after a mistake by Blues left-back Kristian Pedersen.

    Ivan Toney has a follow-up effort blocked and then Jeacock denies Marcondes again from close range.

    The Bees could have had a penalty from the resulting corner as Pedersen appears to drag down Pontus Jansson - but referee Tony Harrington says no.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    #bbcefl

    Kazim: Birmingham have struggled in the Championship since they went down, but on today’s performance and the group of players with the manager, I think we’ll be alright. Top-half finish would be good, but I’m confident we’ll be right up there with the promotion chasers.

  5. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Brentford hit the frame of the goal for the second time today.

    Ethan Pinnock nods a free-kick back across goal.

    The ball finds its way to winger Sergi Canos, who hits the bar with an overhead kick. That would have been spectacular if it had gone in.

    The ball rebounds to safety for the Blues.

  6. Postpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Roger Johnson
    Former Birmingham defender on BBC Radio WM

    It is so good to see the shape of Birmingham. They are frustrating Brentford.

    Lukas JutkiewiczImage source, PA Media
  7. YELLOW CARDpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Bees keeper Luke Daniels smothers an effort from Lukas Jutkiewicz as Birmingham mount a counter attack.

    Moments later Ivan Sunjic goes into the referee's book for a foul on Christian Norgaard.

  8. Arsenal cruising at Craven Cottagepublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Premier League latest: Fulham 0-3 Arsenal

    Pierre-Emerick AubameyangImage source, Reuters

    That sound you can hear is plenty of FPL managers rejoicing as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores Arsenal's third of the day at Fulham early in the second half.

    Not the Premier League return that Fulham wanted, that's for sure.

    Follow the action from Craven Cottage here.

  9. Postpublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Brentford winger Sergi Canos has a side-footed shot blocked inside the Blues box.

    The Bees have upped the tempo and are playing with more urgency now as they search for an equaliser.

  10. Postpublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Wycombe 0-0 Rotherham

    First chance of the second-half goes to the hosts as skipper Matt Bloomfield drills an effort wide from the edge of the box.

  11. Postpublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Teams are starting to arrive at stadiums for 15:00 BST kick-offs in all three EFL divisions - it's been a while since we've been able to say that and it feels nice!

    We'll preview the key games once we're done in our early Championship kick-offs.

    Lyle TaylorImage source, PA Media
  12. Postpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    The visitors have started the second half on top, but are still lacking that killer pass in the final third.

  13. YELLOW CARDpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    First booking of the game as Bees midfielder Christian Norgaard brings down Birmingham striker Lukas Jutkiewicz in midfield.

  14. KICK-OFFpublished at 13:40 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Brentford get the second half started in the Midlands.

    The Bees have been slow starters in the last couple of campaigns.

    Can Birmingham hang on to make it a case of the same old story for the west Londoners?

    The second half between Wycombe and Rotherham is also under way.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:32 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Tweet using #bbcefl

    A reminder you get send us your thoughts on today's action, and how you think you club will do this season, by using #bbcefl on Twitter.

    Jamie Brilley: Problem with Dean challenge - foul or not - is that it was a clear head injury and ref did not stop play.

    Simon Atkins: Fantastic cross, great header. Can we end the season now?

    I'm not surprised Birmingham fans want to end the campaign now after the struggles of the past few seasons... they're joint-top of the table after all.

    Jeremie BelaImage source, Rex Features
  16. Still to come...published at 13:28 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    #bbcefl

    In the half-time break, a reminder there are nine more Championship games to come at 15:00 BST.

    Here is who is playing who:

    • Barnsley v Luton Town (15:00 BST)
    • Bournemouth v Blackburn Rovers (15:00 BST)
    • Bristol City v Coventry City (15:00 BST)
    • Cardiff City v Sheffield Wednesday (15:00 BST)
    • Derby County v Reading
    • Huddersfield Town v Norwich City (15:00 BST)
    • Millwall v Stoke City (15:00 BST)
    • Preston North End v Swansea City (15:00 BST)
    • Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest (15:00 BST)

    There are also 11 games in League One and a full programme in League Two.

    We'll build up to those games once the early kick-offs are out of the way.

  17. HALF-TIMEpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    Jeremie Bela's 37th-minute header separates the two sides at the break.

    The Blues have looked organised and assured. Brentford are lacking their swagger from the end of last season.

  18. Postpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Christian Norgaard trips Blues winger Ivan Sanchez on the edge of the area.

    The free-kick is just to the right of the D, and a great opportunity for the Blues.

    Lukas Jutkiewicz sends his effort low and into the Brentford wall.

  19. HALF-TIMEpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Wycombe 0-0 Rotherham

    Both sides have had very good chances to break the deadlock and have shown great intensity but it's goalless at the break at Adams Park.

    Paul WarneImage source, PA Media
  20. Postpublished at 13:17 British Summer Time 12 September 2020

    Birmingham 1-0 Brentford

    We are due to have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

    Birmingham have looked solid since taking the lead.

    Blues captain Harlee Dean has just flattened Christian Norgaard winning a defensive header.

    The Danish midfielder really felt that one as Dean's shoulder hit his head, and needs some treatment.

    Bees head coach Thomas Frank isn't happy, but Dean was entitled to go for the ball.