League One latestpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
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Will Aimson has Exeter two goals to the good at Wycombe
Top of the league already! The travelling fans are having fun despite the weather.
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
League One latestpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
GOAL: Norwich 0-1 Hull Citypublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Liam Delap (17 mins)
The away side hit the front!
Liam Delap, son of Rory, marks his Hull debut with a goal.
The Manchester City loanee reacts quickest after some poor passing at the back from the home side makes it 1-0 to Liam Rosenior's men.
Postpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Blackburn 0-0 West Brom
Not a great deal for either goalkeeper to be concerned about in the opening 15 minutes at Ewood Park.
Neither side with an attempt on goal yet.
A high-tempo start in south Walespublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Swansea 0-0 Birmingham
Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales at the Swansea.com Stadium
Image source, Getty ImagesMichael Duff was given a warm welcome before kick-off ahead of his first game as Swansea boss and his new team have made a high-tempo start.
There have been a couple of thumping early challenges - with Jamie Paterson booked barely two minutes into the season - and the atmosphere is vibrant, with both sets of fans full of August optimism.
As yet, however, there has been little sign of a goal, with Siriki Dembele's shot gathered by another of the nine debutants on the field, Swansea goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
Postpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Bristol City 0-0 Preston
The hosts have a decent shout for a penalty inside the 15 minutes when Nahki Wells goes down in the box under a challenge by Liam Lindsey, but it's waved away by the referee.
Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Middlesbrough 0-0 Millwall
Steady going at the Riverside.
Not much happening between these two sides at the moment.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Use #bbcefl, text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply) or WhatsApp on 03301231826
Tim from Bristol: How will it PAN out for Wrexham today with Hugh Jackman in the crowd? Will it be LES MISERABLES or do they have the REAL STEEL to go all the way this season? Are they THE PRESTIGE or will they get FLUSHED AWAY?
James Shepperton: Ainsworth out.
It's taken less than 15 minutes of the new season for the first call for a manager to be sacked... Long way to go for QPR at Watford but not ideal to fall behind after 30 seconds.
Postpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Watford 1-0 QPR
Watford are a goal up and have their tails up.
Vakoun Bayo goes close to adding a second for the Hornets, but his header is batted away by Begovic.
League Two latestpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
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After 14 seasons away, Wrexham are behind in an EFL match.
Newly-relegated MK Dons have spoiled the party somewhat as Ethan Robson's free-kick has been headed into his own net by Eoghan O'Connell and now Mo Eisa has doubled the Dons advantage. Very quiet at the Racecourse. Hugh Jackman must wonder what he's watching.
The other newly promoted side, Notts County, are already behind at Sutton, for whom Joe Kizzi found the net after just two minutes.
No easing us back in... straight into it in League Two, my word.
GOAL: Stoke 1-0 Rotherhampublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Ki-Jana Hoever (5 mins)
Image source, Getty ImagesOooft, lot of early goals today!
Wolves full-back Ki-Jana Hoever ended last season on loan with the Potters to good effect and he liked it so much he's come back.
Just as well, he lashes home their first goal of the season with a brilliant finish.
League One latestpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
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Image source, Rex FeaturesJack Aitchison has scored the first goal of the campaign in League One, putting Exeter ahead at Wycombe as the visitors seek to make it seven unbeaten on the opening day.
Bolton have gone ahead against Lincoln - unbeaten in 12 on the opening day, the longest run in the league - through another Jack, Jack Iredale.
GOAL: Plymouth 1-0 Huddersfieldpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Morgan Whittaker (6 mins)
Image source, Rex FeaturesLift off at Home Park!
Last season's League One winners take the lead through new signing Morgan Whittaker.
The striker ended last season on loan with the Pilgrims and he's picked up where he left off!
GOAL: Watford 1-0 QPRpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Tom Dele-Bashiru (1 min)
Image source, Getty ImagesMy word. Watford wasting no time here and find the back of the net within 30 seconds of kick-off.
It's Tom Dele-Bashiru who finds the net, slotting past Asmir Begovic - who is a new addition in the Rangers goal.
The absolute worst possible start for QPR and Gareth Ainsworth.
KICK-OFFpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Image source, PA MediaThe first EFL Saturday of the season is under way.
Here. We. GO!
This is the greatest show...published at 14:59 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Wrexham v MK Dons (15:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesNow it wouldn't be a Wrexham game without a bit of X-factor, would it?
Ryan Reynolds' good pal Hugh Jackman has swapped the Oval last weekend for the Racecourse Ground today as the hosts make a long-awaited return to the EFL against visiting MK Dons.
Will he be watching The Greatest Show or just getting a Bad Education? And will he be sticking around to watch Wolves? All these questions and more will become clear in due course...
League Two fixturespublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
All games kick off at 15:00 BST
Image source, Rex FeaturesHold on to your hats, here comes League Two...
Relegated Accrington start at home to Newport, Crawley welcome Mark Hughes' Bradford and Mansfield, who missed out on the play-offs on goal difference last season, go to Crewe.
Grant McCann is back at Doncaster and they host Harrogate in a Yorkshire derby, while relegated Forest Green have a tricky looking home game with Salford.
Grimsby, beaten in the FA Cup quarter-finals last season, welcome AFC Wimbledon and Walsall make the trip to the Lancashire coast to visit relegated Morecambe.
Beaten play-off finalists Stockport are backed to go well this time out and they host Gillingham, who are also tipped to have a good campaign. Also fancied to be at up the top are promoted Notts County. The Magpies are at Sutton today.
Tranmere play Barrow at Prenton Park and upwardly mobile Wrexham are back in the EFL and will look to get off to a good start against relegated MK Dons.
Colchester v Swindon is postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. Yes, it's August.
- Accrington Stanley v Newport County
- Colchester United P-P Swindon Town
- Crawley Town v Bradford City
- Crewe Alexandra v Mansfield Town
- Doncaster Rovers v Harrogate Town
- Forest Green Rovers v Salford City
- Grimsby Town v AFC Wimbledon
- Morecambe v Walsall
- Stockport County v Gillingham
- Sutton United v Notts County
- Tranmere Rovers v Barrow
- Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons
Colchester v Swindon postponedpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
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Colchester United's game against Swindon Town in League Two has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The announcement was made less than half an hour before kick-off.
A waterlogged pitch on the first Saturday of August... my oh my.
League One fixturespublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
All games kick off at 15:00 BST
Image source, Rex FeaturesRight, here's a whistle-stop tour through all 12 games in League One today...
Beaten play-off finalists Barnsley start life under Neill Collins with a home game against Port Vale, while Blackpool, relegated from the Championship last season, have Neil Critchley back in charge for the visit of Burton.
Promotion favourites Bolton welcome Lincoln and Oxford make the trip to Cambridge in a game between two teams who narrowly avoided the drop last season.
Promoted Carlisle start with a home game against Scott Brown's Fleetwood and there's a London derby at The Valley as Charlton welcome last season's League Two champions Leyton Orient.
Derby are also heavily backed to feature at the top end of the table this season and they play host to relegated Wigan, who start the season on minus eight points.
Two promoted sides meet at Sixfields as Stevenage visit Northampton, Portsmouth will hope for a better season than 2022-23 and welcome Bristol Rovers. The away side will not have boss Joey Barton in the dugout as he starts a three-match stadium ban.
Peterborough, who blew a four-goal play-off lead to lose to Sheffield Wednesday back in May, go to relegated Reading, Matt Taylor's Shrewsbury have a home game with Cheltenham and Wycombe start a season under someone who isn't Gareth Ainsworth for the first time since 2011 with a home game with Exeter.
- Barnsley v Port Vale
- Blackpool v Burton Albion
- Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
- Cambridge United v Oxford United
- Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town
- Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient
- Derby County v Wigan Athletic
- Northampton Town v Stevenage
- Portsmouth v Bristol Rovers
- Reading v Peterborough United
- Shrewsbury Town v Cheltenham Town
- Wycombe Wanderers v Exeter City
Points to prove?published at 14:53 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Bristol City v Preston, Norwich v Hull City, Stoke v Rotherham (All games kick off at 15:00 BST)
Image source, PA MediaBristol City, who finished 14th last season, welcome Preston, who finished 12th. Neither of these two well-supported teams have played in the top flight in more than 30 years. Could this be the season one of them reaches the Premier League?
Norwich's yo-yoing between the Championship and Premier League came to an abrupt halt as they finished a disappointing 13th last time out. Can they mount a challenge this season? Hull City, who enjoyed a decent second half of the campaign under Liam Rosenior, are the visitors to Carrow Road today.
Stoke City haven't finished in the top half since being relegated from the Premier League in 2018. Alex Neil's new-look Potters welcome Rotherham, who ended six successive seasons of flitting between League One and the Championship last season by comfortably avoiding relegation.
Blues buoyed by Brady investmentpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 5 August 2023
Swansea v Birmingham (15:00 BST)
Image source, Birmingham CityThe news that a football legend – well, football if you’re across the pond - was investing in Birmingham City has given the club and its fanbase a huge boost for the new campaign, after a lacklustre season that saw them consistently languishing near the bottom three.
NFL superstar and seven-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady was announced as a new minority owner with the Blues this week, although any impact the former quarterback might have on the club certainly won’t be felt instantly - even if his unveiling is a statement of intent from the powers that be.
A win on opening day will keep the feeling of optimism rolling however and John Eustace’s side travel to Wales to face Swansea, a team that hasn’t beaten them in the past three seasons.
Swansea have gone through a transition this summer, with former Barnsley boss Michael Duff stepping into the dugout. The club finished 10th last year, without ever really challenging for a play-off place, although did end the campaign on a nine-game unbeaten run.