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. INJURY TIMEpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    The stoppage time boards have started to be held up as we approach full-time around the country.

    With the EFL's new time-keeping rules the numbers now at play are looking high with lots of six minutes, eight minutes and nine minutes to be played out after the 90 is up.

    Don't go anywhere just yet...

  2. Postpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Stoke 3-1 Rotherham

    Viktor Johansson makes a fine save to deny Andre Vidigal a debut hat-trick for the Potters.

    The 10-man Millers will just want to get this game over and done with now.

  3. League Two latestpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    Gillingham celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Big goal between two sides tipped to challenge for the title...

    Gillingham have gone 1-0 up against Stockport at Edgeley Park. The Gills won twice in their opening 23 games last season, could they begin with a statement win this term?

    Robbie McKenzie has given then a good chance with a goal four minutes from time.

  4. League One latestpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    In the meeting of two promoted sides Carl Piergianni has broken the deadlock 10 minutes from time to put Stevenage ahead at Northampton.

    The Cobblers are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings between these two sides.

  5. goal

    GOAL: Bristol City 1-1 Prestonpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Will Keane (87 mins)

    Preston celebrateImage source, PA Media

    Preston are level three minutes from time and it's a bit of a controversial one...

    The ball drops to Will Keane a few yards out and he turns on the spot and smashes it into the back of the net.

    The hosts aren't happy though as they think it hit Mads Frokjaer's arm in the build-up, but the referee isn't having it.

    Bristol City went through a bit of a phase of conceding late goals last season and they won't want that trend to return.

  6. Postpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Watford 4-0 QPR

    Watford v QPRImage source, PA Media

    QPR have somehow stopped the Watford rush this second half, with no goals (yet) to speak of since the break, although that might be more down to the hosts slightly taking their foot off that gas.

    That being said, the Hornets have gone repeatedly close to adding to their tally with Giorgi Chakvetadze the latest yet he fires wide.

    Watford have had 18 shots on goal, to QPR's two...

  7. League Two latestpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

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    Jordan Davies has pulled one back for Wrexham - 4-2 down at home to MK Dons with eight minutes of normal time remaining. Script writers everywhere are watching intently...

    No comeback for Notts County though, Harry Smith has put Sutton 5-1 up on the 10-man Magpies in the closing stages.

    Shaun Whalley has put Accrington 2-0 up on Newport with 10 minutes remaining and just a reminder that Colchester v Swindon was washed-out so there will be two teams in the division yet to make their bow this season.

  8. Postpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Don't let the time deceive you.

    Still a lot of football to be played this afternoon.

  9. League One latestpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

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    Paudie O'Conner has turned into his own net with 16 minutes remaining and Bolton are 3-0 up on Lincoln, whose proud opening day run is surely at an end after 12 years unbeaten in their opening fixture.

    James Scott has bagged a third for Exeter who are now 3-0 up at Wycombe - looks like seven years unbeaten on the opening day for the Grecians.

  10. What a turnaround at Home Parkpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfield

    Brent Pilnick
    BBC Sport at Home Park

    It looked like this game might fizzle out, but two goals in as many minutes has taken the roof off this place.

    And what a goal it was to take the lead - Bali Mumba just waltzed through Huddersfield from 50 yards out to score the most incredible individual goal.

    Ryan Hardie's effort soon after seems to have sealed the win here, and my ears are starting to hurt!

  11. RED CARD: Cafu (Rotherham)published at 16:41 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Stoke City 3-1 Rotherham

    Cafu's (not that one) debut for Rotherham comes to an abrupt halt.

    Two yellows = one red and he's off to the dressing room.

  12. goal

    GOAL: Middlesbrough 0-1 Millwallpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Romain Esse (79 mins)

    Millwall celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    The deadlock is broken and it's the visitors who take the lead.

    A beautiful finish from Romain Esse who scores his first goal for Millwall.

    Left footed and into the top corner. Nothing the Boro keeper Seny Dieng could do about it.

    The Millwall players celebrate at the corner flag.

  13. League Two latestpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    David McGoldrick probably hasn't enjoyed the debut he'd have liked for his boyhood team but he's on the scoresheet for 10-man Notts County who have one back at Sutton.

    21 minutes plus stoppages remain. They couldn't, could they?

  14. goal

    GOAL: Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfieldpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Ryan Hardie (76 mins)

    Argyle celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    CALM DOWN PLYMOUTH!

    The home side have totally taken this away from the Terriers with two goals in as many minutes.

    Ryan Hardie gets his side's third and surely wraps up the points. That's 50 goals in the green shirt for the Scot and he has taken that one with real class.

  15. goal

    GOAL: Swansea 1-1 Birminghampublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Jerry Yates (76 mins)

    All square in South Wales as Jerry Yates opens his account for Swansea on his debut to draw the home side level.

    It's fairly straightforward as Liam Cullen crosses into the box and Yates taps in past John Ruddy into the net.

    Yates got 15 goals for Blackpool last season, Swansea will hope this is the first of a similar run for them this campaign.

  16. League One latestpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

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    Wigan celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    Charlie Wyke has his second and Wigan are back ahead against Derby at Pride Park with less than 20 minutes remaining.

    Not the start Rams fans wanted. Will the Latics move onto -5 points tonight?

    Barnsley have hit six against Port Vale with Liam Kitching and Jonathan Russell interrupting the Devante Cole showcase.

  17. goal

    GOAL: Plymouth 2-1 Huddersfieldpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Bali Mumba (74 mins)

    Argyle scoreImage source, Rex Features

    The home side retake the lead and what a strike it is!

    Bali Mumba signed permanently in the summer after a successful loan spell last season - he has his first of the season and his team's second.

    The former Norwich man goes on an enterprising run and he keeps going and he keeps going and then he just pops it in the net.

  18. League Two latestpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    #bbcefl

    Harry Beautyman has bagged a fourth for Sutton who are putting 10-man Notts County to the sword at Gander Green Lane.

    MK Dons and Sutton have been in step all afternoon when it comes to scoring against the new-boys.

    Kian Spence has put Barrow back ahead at Tranmere with 20 minutes remaining. 2-1 to the visitors there.

  19. Postpublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

    Watford 4-0 QPR

    Valerian Ismael is content enough, unsurprisingly, with how things are going that he's taking off goalscorers Imran Louza and Tom Dele-Bashiru as well as Francisco Sierralta.

    Jake Livermore and Giorgi Chakvetadze are coming on for their debuts, along with Ismael Kone.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 5 August 2023

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

    Warren, QPR fan in Ilkley: Having a lot of fun with the atlas, working out where Port Vale, Cheltenham and Fleetwood are so that I can be better prepared for next season.

    If you're just joining us QPR were 4-0 down at half-time away at Watford. To be fair, it's not got any worse since the break ¯\_(ツ)_/¯