Summary

  • Watford score four first-half goals as they thrash QPR

  • Stoke put four past Rotherham, Plymouth beat Huddersfield

  • Also wins for Blackburn, Millwall & Norwich

  • League One - Barnsley thrash Port Vale 7-0, Devante Cole hat-trick

  • League Two - EFL newcomers Wrexham & Notts County both thrashed

  • Colchester v Swindon postponed because of waterlogged pitch

  1. That's a wrappublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    Charlton celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    The first Saturday of the EFL season is in the books and what a Saturday it has been!

    Each of the three divisions saw at least one team win by four goals or more on a brilliantly entertaining day.

    We've got match reports from all of the games going live on the website now - so stay with us to recap anything you may have missed.

    The weekend action isn't over though, not by a long shot.

    We've got three more Championship games for you tomorrow, starting with a Midlands derby between last season's beaten play-off finalists Coventry and relegated Leicester City at 12:00 BST.

    Hope you can join us then and thanks for your company today!

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Use #bbcefl, text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply) or WhatsApp on 03301231826

    Anon: Obviously not the best start for Wrexham but there's a whole season ahead in which to learn how to play at this level. Remember Sutton and Forest Green were recipients of similar negative comments early in their first season and they're both doing OK for themselves. As for my team, Blackburn, after an awful and demoralising transfer window I can't help but think maybe we'll be back in League One next season. Who knows, we may play Wrexham opening game...

    A football fan being philosophical and not losing their mind on the opening day? Surely not?!

  3. League Two full-time headlinespublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    MK Dons celebrateImage source, Rex Features
    • It was a nightmare return to EFL action for Wrexham and Notts County. The Red Dragonslost 5-3 in a chaotic game at home to MK Dons while the Magpies had their keeper sent-off early-on and lost 5-1 at Sutton.
    • Robbie McKenzie snatched the points for Gillingham in their big game at Stockport with the only goal four minutes from time.
    • Davis Keillor-Dunn's double was in vain as Crewe came back to draw 2-2 at home to Mansfield.
    • Crawley, tipped by many to go down, toppled much-fancied Bradford 1-0 while Accrington won 3-0 against Newport, also expected to struggle.
    • Salford were 2-0 winners at Forest Green, Barrow were 2-1 winners at Tranmere while Jack Muldoon's penalty gave Harrogate a Yorkshire derby win at Doncaster.
    • Morecambe snatched a last-gasp win against Walsall while Grimsby v AFC Wimbledon finished goalless and Colchester v Swindon was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
  4. League One headlinespublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    Portsmouth celebrateImage source, Rex Features
    • Barnsley destroyed Port Vale 7-0 and Devante Cole scored a hat-trick.
    • Mostly positive for the relegated three who dropped into League One, there were wins for Blackpool and Wigan but Reading lost.
    • Stevenage the only newly promoted side to claim three points with a 1-0 over fellow newcomers Northampton Town.
    • Exeter City secure a comfortable 3-0 away win over Wycombe Wanderers.
    • Bolton Wanderers walked to victory 3-0 over Lincoln City
    • Portsmouth salvaged a point with an injury-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bristol Rovers.
  5. Championship full-time headlinespublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Argyle celebrateImage source, Rex Features
    • Watford get off to a dream start as they hammer QPR 4-0, all goals coming in the first half there.
    • Two goals in as many minutes give League One champions Plymouth a 3-1 win over Huddersfield and Stoke beat 10-man Rotherham 4-1.
    • Millwall claim a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough with a goal from 18-year-old Romain Esse and Blackburn beat West Brom 2-1.
    • Adam Idah's late goal gives Norwich all three points at home to Hull City.
    • It finishes 1-1 between Bristol City and Preston and Swansea and Birmingham City.
  6. Postpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Right, I THINK we're at full-time in our eight Championship games so let's go through the headlines on a mad opening Saturday in the EFL season.

    Give this post a thumbs up if you're pleased with your team's result today or down if not (Port Vale and QPR fans I'm looking at you)

    Millwall celebrateImage source, Rex Features
  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Stoke City 4-1 Rotherham

    Comfortable opening day for Alex Neil's man.

    Two goals from debutant Andre Vidigal in first-half stoppage time took this one away from the away side who ended with 10 men after their debutant Cafu was sent off for two yellows.

  8. Joy at Home Parkpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfield

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Home Park

    Plymouth Argyle celebrate a goalImage source, Rex Features

    The Home Park faithful aren't leaving yet as they loudly hail their heroes.

    They've been through the mill today - joy at an early goal, nervousness as the first half wore on and possibly a bit of despair as Huddersfield deservedly equalised.

    But having seen one of the finest goals at this ground for many a year before a third soon after, the Argyle faithful are going home happy.

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Blackburn 2-1 West Brom

    Debut goals from Dilan Markanday and Harry Leonard are enough to see Blackburn through in a game of two halves.

    It was all Rovers in the games opening 45 minutes and they knocked the Baggies for six with a pair of quick goals.

    The visitors came out fighting in the second and got one back through Matthew Phillips but they couldn't find an equaliser and Rovers survive.

  10. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Swansea 1-1 Birmingham

    Points shared for Swansea and Birmingham with debut goals from Siriki Dembele for the Blues and Jerry Yates for the Swans.

  11. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Watford 4-0 QPR

    A dream start to the new season for Watford and an absolute nightmare from QPR who are hammered 4-0 at Vicarage Road.

    The Hornets fired in front just 30 seconds after kick-off through Tom Dele-Bashiru and from then the floodgates opened with Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Bayo all finding the net.

    Back to the drawing board doesn't seem to be enough for QPR after that showing. Penny for Gareth Ainsworth's thoughts right now.

  12. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfield

    Plymouth make the perfect start to life back in the Championship.

    Bali Mumba and Ryan Hardie scored in as many minutes in the second half to ensure last season's League One title winners pick up where they left off.

  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Norwich 2-1 Hull City

    What a crazy end to this one!

    Adam Idah won it for the home side with just about the last kick and Hull City boss Liam Rosenior was shown a red card in the aftermath of the goal.

    Norwich come from a goal down to claim a first home win since February.

  14. League One latestpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    Kusini Yengi has struck in added time for Portsmouth to level against Bristol Rovers who had not won on the opening day in their last 11 seasons.

  15. goal

    GOAL: Norwich 2-1 Hull Citypublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Adam Idah (90+6 mins)

    Norwich celebrateImage source, PA Media

    A late, late winner for the home side!

    Republic of Ireland international Adam Idah pokes in from close range to surely give the Canaries the points.

  16. goal

    GOAL: Stoke 4-1 Rotherhampublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Jacob Brown (90 mins)

    Stoke celebrateImage source, PA Media

    That's the icing on the Stoke cake.

    Jacob Brown scores from close range to make this a very good start to the season for the Potters.

  17. FULL-TIMEpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Bristol City 1-1 Preston

    Sam Bell's goal for Bristol City early in the second half is cancelled out three minutes from time by Will Keane who ensures Preston leave with a point.

    Both sides had little between them in terms of the table last season and start the new campaign almost in exactly the same way.

  18. Postpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Watford 4-0 QPR

    Nine minutes of added time at Vicarage Road and so plenty by Watford's standards this afternoon to find another goal.

    Ken Sema almost makes it 5-0 but Asmir Begovic makes a decent save to palm it over the bar.

  19. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Middlesbrough 0-1 Millwall

    Millwall substitute Romain Esse's goal in the 79th minute secures three points for the travelling Lions.

    Middlesbrough offered little in reply and failed to really get going the majority of the game.

  20. League Two latestpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    MK DonsImage source, PA Media

    Stoppage-time in some games, plenty left in others, but Morecambe look to have snatched the points against Walsall through Farrend Rawson's injury-time strike to make it 2-1.

    Dan Harvie has added a fifth for MK Dons who lead 5-2 at the Racecourse against Wrexham. Hold on, make that 5-3. Anthony Forde has pulled one back six minutes into added time.

    What an episode that's going to be!