Accrington manager John Coleman praised the “courage and character” of his side as they quickly responded to falling behind in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Charlton.The League One clash was level at 1-1 heading into six minutes of added time, after Stanley’s Sean McConville cancelled out Scott Fraser’s first-half opener.Charlton thought they had won it when Miles Leabur...Full Story »

Robbie Neilson admitted Hearts were caught cold in the first half before they eventually kicked off their cinch Premiership campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Ross County.The Tynecastle side were on the back foot before the break as the Staggies, who have had four competitive games in the Premier Sports Cup over the past few weeks, took the game to the Jambos and hit the woodwork twice.Neilson&r...Full Story »

Paul Hurst insisted a contentious penalty award changed the game after Grimsby were beaten 2-0 by Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.Grimsby, back in the Football League after a season’s absence, had battled well in the first half but George Moncur converted a penalty for a handball offence three minutes after the interval and Tom James doubled the O’s lead with a wonder-strike from 30 y...Full Story »

Birmingham boss John Eustace was impressed by his side’s defensive display in the opening day 0-0 draw at Luton.The former QPR assistant was only appointed earlier this month following the departure of Lee Bowyer, and he saw his side hold the Hatters to a stalemate at Kenilworth Road.Experienced goalkeeper John Ruddy producing a fine display on his debut against a team who finished in the ...Full Story »

Swansea boss Russell Martin was not surprised by Harry Darling’s wonder goal which earned a 1-1 draw with Rotherham.Centre-half Darling celebrated his Swans debut with a 25-yard scorcher that found the top corner and cancelled out Chiedozie Ogbene’s early opener.Both sides had chances to win it in the second half, with Michael Obafemi missing an open goal for Swansea while Ogbene and...Full Story »

Crewe manager Alex Morris said his side’s 2-1 victory against Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena was vital in giving the club ‘lift off’ in League Two.Relegated at the end of last season following a miserable campaign in League One, Morris said it was important the club rediscover what it means to win games.Dan Agyei headed them in front after 14 minutes and Lachlan Brook put them...Full Story »

Head coach Shota Arveladze insists new-look Hull remain a work in progress, despite a 2-1 victory at home to Bristol City on the opening day of the season.Jean Michael Seri’s deflected goal in stoppage time sent supporters home optimistic for the future under ambitious new owner Acun Ilicali.But Arveladze said: “We will have more days like these, but there will also be ups and downs....Full Story »

Cambridge started their League One season with a 1-0 win over highly-fancied MK Dons.The visitors almost made an ideal start inside the first minute, with Matt Smith’s effort from the edge of the box coming back off the bar.Instead it was Cambridge who took the lead after 17 minutes through a terrific goal by Harvey Knibbs.He slalomed into the box before cutting inside and firing low past ...Full Story »

Danny Johnson’s hat-trick got Paul Hartley’s reign as Hartlepool manager off to a nightmare start as Walsall dished out a 4-0 hammering.After Brandon Comley’s deflected opener, Johnson, on loan from Mansfield until January, stole the show with a dream debut.Pools keeper Ben Killip foiled Taylor Allen early on but could do nothing when Comley’s strike from 18 yards took a ...Full Story »

Stockport’s first game back in the Football League after an 11-year absence ended in a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Barrow despite a second-half fightback.Pete Wild’s first game in charge of the visitors produced a perfect outcome after they had raced into a 3-0 interval lead.Barrow got their third season back in the EFL off to a dream start after only six minutes when Josh Gordon rif...Full Story »

Edinburgh won the battle of the newly-promoted sides with a 2-0 win at Kelty Hearts on the opening day of cinch League One season.John Robertson put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute but they had to wait until stoppage time to secure the points through Ouzy See.Clyde were a goal down inside the first minute through Lee Connelly but hit back to beat Queen of the South 4-1.Oliver McDonald equa...Full Story »

Carlisle striker Kristian Dennis ensured Kevin Betsy’s first Sky Bet League Two game in charge of Crawley ended in a 1-0 defeat.Dennis needed only five minutes to register the Cumbrians’ opening goal of the new campaign.Paul Simpson’s side should have achieved a wider margin of victory but they were denied by on-loan Brentford debutant goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe in the opening ...Full Story »

Jordan Roberts hit a late winner to give Stevenage a deserved 2-1 win at Tranmere in Sky Bet League Two.It looked like the points would be shared after Kane Hemmings had cancelled out Jake Reeves’ first-half opener.But debutant Roberts smashed home from close range with six minutes to go to earn a victory for the visitors.Stevenage started strongly with Ross Doohan making early saves from ...Full Story »

Ipswich and Bolton shared the spoils at Portman Road after an entertaining 1-1 draw on the opening day of the Sky Bet League One season.Aaron Morley’s spot-kick gave Wanderers the lead after Conor Bradley had been fouled before Lee Evans drew Town level from a well-worked set-piece 13 minutes later.The visitors started the game brightly and Bolton forward Oladapo Afolayan headed over Morle...Full Story »

Jonson Clarke-Harris scored twice as Peterborough hit back from two goals down to start the season with a 3-2 win at Cheltenham.The home side, under new head coach Wade Elliott, deservedly went in 2-0 up at half-time thanks to an own goal and Alfie May’s strike.Dan Nlundulu caused problems for Posh and he provided the low ball that was turned into his own net by Frankie Kent after 30 minut...Full Story »

Morecambe and Shrewsbury played out an opening-day 0-0 draw at the Mazuma Stadium.A game that saw plenty of effort, but few clear chances at either end, finished all square with both defences on top.Shrewsbury started quickly and created two chances in the opening five minutes, with Luke Leahy firing wide and drilling a shot into the side netting before Morecambe had the best chance of the half ...Full Story »

Partick Thistle got their Scottish Championship campaign off to a winning start with a 3-2 victory against Dundee.Newly-promoted Thistle were given a late scare by the Dee, who were relegated from the Premiership last season, after they scored two goals in the second half but were able to see the game out.Aidan Fitzpatrick put Thistle in the lead, smashing the ball home from the edge of the box....Full Story »

Centre-backs Nathan Smith and Connor Hall scored the goals as newly-promoted Port Vale opened life in Sky Bet League One with a 2-1 win at home to Fleetwood.The visitors took a sixth-minute lead through Dan Batty’s goal but Vale hit twice in two minutes to condemn Scott Brown to a losing start in management.Fleetwood’s early breakthrough came after good work by Promise Omochere, who ...Full Story »

Bradford debutant Emmanuel Osadebe suffered a suspected broken leg in their 0-0 draw with Doncaster.Play was stopped for eight minutes before Osadebe was stretchered off. Doncaster’s Liam Ravenhill was booked for the foul that caused the early injury and was substituted straight away by manager Gary McSheffrey.But Doncaster were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when striker Lee Toml...Full Story »

League Two newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose started the season with a bang in a 2-0 win over Forfar.The Midlothian club won the Lowland League last season before defeating Cowdenbeath to seal promotion for the first time.They took the lead when a header from 35-year-old striker Kevin Smith squirmed through the legs of visiting keeper Marc McCallum and rolled into the net.That might not have been the pre...Full Story »