• Millwall win 3-0 in first match back in Championship
• Hull and Burnley open with home victories
Millwall celebrated their return to the Championship by subjecting David James to a torrid afternoon in a 3-0 victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The England goalkeeper was beaten by Darren Ward and Danny Schofield either side of half-time before Paul Robinson’s goal sealed a magnificent opening day for the south London side on the hour mark. However, there was a sour note to Millwall’s day as Darren Carter was sent off for two bookable offences.
Chris Iwelumo marked his Burnley debut with the winning goal as Brian Laws’s side began life outside the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The Scotland international, a summer signing from Wolves, headed in on the stroke of half-time to score the only goal of the game.
The teenager John Bostock inspired Hull City to a 2-0 victory over Swansea as Hull made a winning return to the Championship after their relegation from the top flight. Bostock, signed on the eve of the campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, laid the foundations for victory by rattling in a stunning 30-yard drive to help Nigel Pearson mark his first game in charge with a victory. The returning captain Ian Ashbee made the points safe in the 49th minute, punishing Dorus De Vries’s error.
Two second-half goals inside a minute from Tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith helped Ipswich Town to a superb 3-1 win away at pre-season favourites Middlesbrough. The hosts were given an early lead by Scott McDonald but never managed to assert their authority as Roy Keane’s team fought back with their quick double before Jon Stead added a third late on.
Crystal Palace put a summer of financial uncertainly behind them to edge a thrilling opening-day contest against Leicester City 3-2. Last season’s play-off semi-finalists were put to the sword in the first half at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from Wilfred Zaha, Darren Ambrose and Alan Lee. Leicester dominated the second period and goals from Andy King and DJ Campbell put them back in contention but they fell just short.
QPR’s forgotten men Heidar Helguson and Fitz Hall combined with the new signings Jamie Mackie and Adel Taarabt to secure a 4-0 victory over Barnsley. The Icelandic forward Helguson, whose days in west London appeared to be numbered when he was loaned to Watford last season, was composed from the penalty spot in the first half and Hall, who spent the end of the last campaign on loan at Newcastle, tapped in the fourth.
In between, the former Plymouth Argyle forward Mackie opened his account with a predatory strike and Taarabt, who completed his permanent move from Tottenham on Thursday, capped a sparkling display by tucking away the home side’s second spot-kick.
Portsmouth’s struggles continued on the pitch as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against impressive Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena. Cash-strapped Pompey, relegated from the Premier League in May after seven seasons in the top flight, were undone by two goals from Freddy Eastwood.
A new-look Preston North End side endured a bitterly disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of 10-man Doncaster at Deepdale. Rovers established an early 2-0 lead with goals from James O’Connor and James Hayter to secure victory before the late dismissal of the debutant midfielder Simon Gillett.
Garry Thompson’s controversial goal helped Scunthorpe on their way to an impressive 2-1 win at Reading. Thompson appeared to have been flagged offside as he gave the Iron an early lead but the goal stood, to the fury of the Reading manager Brian McDermott. Gylfi Sigurdsson drew the home side level with a typically emphatic shot but the centre-half Rob Jones was able to head in a second-half winner for the visitors.
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