Michael Beale spoke about a “bit of realism in the air” after new-look Rangers’ cinch Premiership title challenge got off to the worst possible start with a 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock.Brad Lyons’ strike after 65 minutes gave the home side a shock victory and put an early dent in the Light Blues hopes of wrestling the title back from Celtic, who began the defence of their ti...Full Story »

Rochdale’s first league match outside the English Football League for 102 years ended in an unceremonious 1-0 home defeat to Ebbsfleet.Luke O’Neill’s brilliant strike in the first half was enough for Fleet to take the points in the National League opener at Spotland.The full-back met Toby Edser’s corner with an audacious near-post flick that sailed into the far corner.Roc...Full Story »

Rangers’ cinch Premiership title challenge suffered the earliest of blows with a shock 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock in the opening day of the season.Michael Beale’s disjointed side had laboured in the first half at Rugby Park and there was no improvement after the break before they were stunned by Brad Lyons’ counter after 65 minutes.The 26-year-old Northern Irishman pounced inside...Full Story »

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho was relieved to see his side snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol Rovers.Debutant Kusini Yengi scored a stoppage-time goal to salvage a point after Luke Thomas had given Rovers a first-half lead.“There are mixed emotions in the dressing room at the moment,” Mousinho said.“If you had offered me a point with five minutes to go, I would have been h...Full Story »

Grimsby manager Paul Hurst believes his side had the better of their 0-0 draw with AFC Wimbledon despite the visitors having a second-half penalty saved.Town started the second half brightly but the visitors were gifted a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 59th minute as Harry Clifton brought down Ali Al-Hamadi in the box.The latter took the penalty, which was saved well by Jake Eastwood down...Full Story »

Charlton manager Dean Holden felt his side deserved their 1-0 opening-day League One victory over Leyton Orient.The game at the rainy Valley was settled by a first-half strike from captain George Dobson.Holden was pleased his outfit put in a performance in front of a bumper home crowd and believed his side could have scored more.He said “There’s a lot of expectation of supporters tur...Full Story »

Morecambe boss Derek Adams labelled his new-look side “fantastic” after they sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Walsall at the Mazuma Stadium.Adams saw Farrend Rawson earn his side the three points with a close-range finish in the 92nd minute following first-half goals from Adam Mayor and Danny Johnson.Adams, who handed out five debuts after being forced to release many of his first-...Full Story »

Michael Duff admits Jerry Yates’ ruthless nature in front of goal on his debut against Birmingham typified why Swansea were so keen to sign the striker in the summer.Blues took the lead on the brink of half-time in the Sky Bet Championship opener between the sides in south Wales as Siriki Dembele fired beyond Brighton loanee Carl Rushworth after a defensive lapse from the hosts.But Swansea...Full Story »

Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher praised returning duo Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker as his side marked their return to the Championship with a 3-1 home win over Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield at windswept Home Park.Whittaker’s sixth-minute opener was cancelled out by Terriers skipper Michal Helik’s leveller in first-half stoppage time.But two solo goals in as many second-half mi...Full Story »

Reading manager Ruben Selles defended a section of the club’s fans for staging a sit-in protest after the 1-0 League One defeat at home to Peterborough.About 200 supporters protested loudly yet peacefully, calling for the removal of club owner Dai Yongge for 40 minutes after a losing start to life in the third tier.The Royals, who are under another transfer embargo, were beaten by a 43rd-m...Full Story »