Key events
League Two roundup
York debutant Harry Boyes bagged a brace to mark the club’s EFL return after a 10-year absence with a thrilling 3-2 home triumph over Bristol Rovers.
Boyes – a summer signing from Southend – netted the first EFL goals of his career and was joined on the Minstermen scoresheet by Alex Newby.
Clinton Mola had given Steve Evans’ visitors a first-half lead and substitute Tommy Leigh later levelled from the penalty spot, but Boyes had the last say.
Newport and new manager Hayden Mullins enjoyed a dream start to their League Two campaign with a 3-0 home win over newly-promoted Rochdale.
First-half goals from summer signings Kyle Cameron and Shaquille Gwengwe put the Exiles in charge at a sun-baked Rodney Parade.
Calum Kavanagh’s second-half double gave Oldham a 2-0 home win against relegated Port Vale.
Kavanagh, who scored twice in 10 games last season after arriving from Bradford in January, struck twice in the space of 15 minutes to earn the Latics an opening-day victory.
Charlie Caton scored twice but Accrington had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw with Colchester.
Colchester who broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when Ellis Iandolo headed home. Stanley levelled five minutes later when Shaun Whalley’s cross was headed into the far corner by Caton. The Reds took the lead in the first minute of added time at the end of the first half as Caton in the box and he fired home.
Colchester equalised on the hour when Rob Hunt’s high cross dipped straight into the top corner of the net.
Goals from Oisin Gallagher, Charlie Lakin and Kabongo Tshimanga earned Barnet a 3-1 opening-day win over Salford.
The trio struck to put the Bees in full control before Adebola Oluwo’s last-minute consolation.
A debut strike from Leicester loanee Jake Evans sealed a 2-1 home win for Cheltenham over Rotherham.
The Robins led through Charlie McCann’s first-half strike before Jili Buyabu levelled for the Millers in the 62nd minute. But Evans, who turns 18 on Friday, went on from the bench and sealed the points for Steve Cotterill’s side.
Veteran striker Ched Evans scored the only goal of the game, finding the net against one of his former clubs to give Fleetwood an opening day 1-0 victory at Chesterfield.
Josh March headed the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time as 10-man Crewe got the better of nine-man Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium.
Late goals from Isaac Moore, James Connolly and Aaron Pressley did the damage as Walsall secured a fine 3-0 away win over Gillingham.
Grimsby got off to a winning start at the expense of newly-relegated Exeter with a tightly-contested 1-0 triumph at Blundell Park.
Harvey Rodgers gave the hosts the lead 36 minutes in as he got on the end of a corner from Charles Vernam, with the linesman calling it over the line before it was cleared.
Tranmere completed a 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury. Jordan Davies’ first league goal for the club and a Charlie Whitaker wonder strike secured the points in an entertaining opening-day clash at Prenton Park.
Northampton and Swindon played out a goalless draw at Sixfields.
Leicester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Notts County in their League One opener yesterday. Will Unwin was at Meadow Lane for the match.
League One roundup
Jamal Lowe converted a second-half penalty as Sheffield Wednesday made a winning start in League One following relegation with a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient. The Owls, under new ownership since succumbing to the earliest relegation in English Football League history in February, went ahead through Callum Slattery’s debut goal before Joseph Olowu levelled before the break. But Lowe picked himself up after being fouled in the area by James Morris to fire home from the spot in the 66th minute.
Former Premier League champions Leicester were denied victory at Notts County in their first match since relegation as they were held 1-1. Conor Grant’s late strike cancelled out Jayden Joseph’s second-half opener for Leicester and salvaged a deserved point for the home side.
Ciaron Brown’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued another relegated side, Oxford, earning them a 2-2 draw at newly-promoted MK Dons. Charlie Goode and Aaron Collins gave the Dons a 2-1 half-time lead after Mark Harris had fired the U’s in front before Brown turned home a cross in the fifth minute of added time.
Substitute Gideon Kodua scrambled a stoppage-time winner to seal Luton a 4-3 win at Reading, for whom Jack Marriott scored a first-half hat-trick. Huddersfield’s summer signing Derensili Sanches Fernandes struck twice as they beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 at home despite the first-half dismissal of Bali Mumba.
Victor Adeboyejo fired a second-half winner as Bromley won 1-0 at Barnsley for their first-ever win in the third tier following promotion.
Cambridge United held off a fightback to beat Wigan 3-2 on the U’s return to League One.
Goals from Kell Watts, Louis Appere and Isaac Heath put the hosts in control but Wigan made a game of it in the last 20 minutes when Sonny Perkins and Akeel Higgins set up a nervy finish.
Blackpool and Wycombe shared the points in an opening day 1-1 draw.
The visitors led for long periods at Bloomfield Road, following an early opener from Fred Onyedinma. This was cancelled out by substitute Finley Munroe, who made an instant impact following his loan move from Middlesbrough last week.
Bradford made a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Peterborough, who finished with 10 men after David Okagbue’s red card.
Second-half goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Nick Powell were enough for last season’s play-off semi-finalists to secure three points.
Stockport eased to a sparkling 3-1 win at Plymouth as Jack Diamond scored their opener, helped set up a second for Kyle Wootton and a third for Ryan Glover before Xavier Amaechi gave Argyle a late consolation.
Mansfield made a winning start with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Doncaster.
Rhys Oates swept home the opener but Rovers levelled four minutes after the break when through Jack Senior before Mansfield deservedly won it in the 74th minute with a free-kick from Louis Reed.
Olly Sanderson bundled home in stoppage time to snatch Stevenage a point in a 1-1 draw at Burton. The former Fulham youngster came off the bench to cancel out Jack Armer’s second-half strike for the Brewers.
Championship results
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Wolves 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
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Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End
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Bristol City 0-2 Millwall
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Charlton 2-1 Derby County
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Middlesbrough 2-1 Lincoln City
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Norwich City 1-2 West Brom
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Portsmouth 1-3 Queens Park Rangers
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Stoke City 1-2 Swansea City
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Sheffield United 0-0 Birmingham City
Let’s press pause on the Community Shield previewing and look back at yesterday’s Championship results. Click below for a round-up of the opening Saturday.
Speaking of Arteta, the Arsenal manager has insisted that he is relaxed about his contract situation. The 44-year-old’s current deal expires next year.
He said: “They don’t have to worry about any of that, because I want to be here. I am extremely happy. I feel very grateful to work with the people that I work with and when we have the possibility, we will resolve that. And that’s it.”
Asked if he expects talks over a new contract to continue after the transfer window, Arteta added: “There is always another priority, I think. And that’s the way we have been treating it, I think because everybody feels comfortable that the time on the contract is not going to be an issue. I think because my will, certainly, is to be here and I am very happy here. My feeling from the club is the same one. That is why everyone is doing things in a really organic way.”
Ahead of the match against City, Mikel Arteta said: “The best version of Arsenal has to be on Sunday. That’s the intention. The best performance, the best way to start the season by lifting the first trophy. That’s the way we’ve prepared the season.”
He added: “Now it’s Enzo – who is as good as [Guardiola], because I know him well. He will provide something different to the club.”
I can see City giving Maresca plenty of time in the job, even if he does not get off to the strongest of starts.
Interesting to see how Guardiolas lookalike will be handling this team that has been so strongly in a managers hand. Hard to change even a little bit.
Ahead of the Community Shield, Enzo Maresca said: “For me personally, it’s a trophy. When trophies are there in a final you are there to win the game, no friendly game at all. We want to try our best to win the first trophy.
“Arsenal have shown over the last few years, they have always been there. They’re a fantastic team. Well managed, well coached from Mikel, and last year they win the Premier League. But we are City, we want to close the gap.
“Pre-season has been good. Now we need to compete, win games, win titles. I want to see high spirit and the right mentality.”
It will be very interesting to see how Manchester City do in these first competitive games under Enzo Maresca. Pep Guardiola leaving was such a huge moment, so it perhaps may take a few games to adjust. Arsenal today will be a big test for the new manager.
Jonathan Wilson
“The Community Shield is a first opportunity to make some kind of assessment of whether Arsenal’s hunger is as sharp as it was last season, and of how City’s squad are adapting to their new manager. It is, though, a largely ceremonial occasion, any lessons drawn to be taken with extreme caution…”
Today’s fixtures
Community Shield:
Championship:
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Watford v Southampton
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Burnley v West Ham
La Liga:
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to another Matchday live! The annual curtain-raiser for the Premier League season – aka the Community Shield – takes place today as Arsenal prepare to face Manchester City. It also marks the start of a new era for City following the departure of Pep Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca facing his first competitive match as the club’s head coach.
The Principality Stadium in Cardiff plays host to the game, which kicks off at 3pm BST.
Elsewhere, West Ham are in Championship action as they kick off their campaign against Burnley, while Watford take on Southampton.
We’ll build up to those games throughout the day and keep you up to date with all the latest transfer news.
Join us!