Motherwell interim manager Steven Hammell admitted it was a hard one to take as his side conceded a last-minute goal from Stevie May as they lost 2-1 to St Johnstone at Fir Park.The manner of the defeat was particularly sore for the hosts given they had got themselves level only moments earlier, as Sean Goss’ deep corner found its way over the line after touches from Sondre Solholm and Gra...Full Story »

The contributions of strikers Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart delighted Sunderland boss Alex Neil as his newly-promoted side took three deserved points from a 3-2 win at Ashton Gate.Everton loanee Simms marked his debut by shooting the visitors in front inside four minutes and fired a second to equalise after goals from Andreas Weimann and Chris Martin had put City in front.Stewart headed the winne...Full Story »

Antonio Conte was delighted with Tottenham’s style during their opening-day 4-1 win over Southampton and warned his new signings they must fight to earn a place in his starting line-up.A busy summer for Spurs where they brought in six players increased the optimism and excitement around N17 before kick-off, but James Ward-Prowse’s 12th-minute opener for the visitors threatened to spo...Full Story »

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder felt his side’s 3-2 defeat at QPR showed they should not be regarded as promotion contenders.Boro were three down at Loftus Road before mounting a fightback.Wilder believes the squad needs to be strengthened before a promotion challenge can be sustained.“We’re all trying. It’s just such a difficult market to deal in. We’re all trying ...Full Story »

New Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson praised his side for sticking to the game plan in their 3-0 victory at Swansea that took them to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table.Goals from new signing Sam Szmodics in the first half and Ben Brereton Diaz and skipper Lewis Travis after the break backed up the opening-day win over QPR to give Rovers the perfect start to the season.“The performa...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was delighted with his side’s start as they romped to a 4-0 victory at 10-man Burton with all four goals coming in a breath-taking first half.Burton saw Conor Shaughnessy red-carded inside the first minute for a foul on Aaron Collins and Rovers took full advantage, with Collins scoring twice after Antony Evans and James Connolly had found the net.“We s...Full Story »

Aberdeen bounced back from their opening-day defeat at Celtic, taking advantage of Declan Gallagher’s early red card to beat St Mirren 4-1 at Pittodrie.Gallagher’s nightmare appearance against his former club saw him dismissed for two bookings after just 22 minutes, and the home side needed no second invitation to lead 3-0 by the break thanks to Bojan Miovski’s double and Leigh...Full Story »

Exeter manager Matt Taylor could not hide his delight as his team thrashed Port Vale 4-0 with a superb display at St James Park.Harry Kite opened the scoring with a sweetly struck volley before the outstanding Jevani Brown made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Jack Sparkes had been fouled.Brown made it 3-0, finishing off a fine team move, before Sam Nombe notched his second of the season to ca...Full Story »

Barrow maintained their perfect start to the new season with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Bradford at Holker Street.Josh Gordon struck the stoppage-time winner – straight after Andy Cook had equalised for the visitors – to make it a maximum six points for Pete Wild’s side.Manager Wild said: “A draw was probably a fair result but I’m delighted to go on and win the gam...Full Story »

Paul Hurst reckons his Grimsby side deserved to pick up all three points against Northampton after fighting back for a 1-1 draw.Jordan Maguire-Drew was the Mariners hero as he netted a dramatic late equaliser only a minute after coming off the bench at Blundell Park.Sam Hoskins was on target for Northampton and it looked as though his goal might be enough to spoil the party for Grimsby in their ...Full Story »

Charlton manager Ben Garner declared himself delighted with the result if not his side’s hesitant first-half performance as the Addicks beat Derby 1-0 at The Valley.Garner admitted he was a worried man at half-time before Corey Blackett-Taylor’s 62nd-minute goal changed the momentum of the game.Garner said: “I’m really pleased with the result. Derby are a huge club in the...Full Story »

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin refused to get carried away after his side routed 10-man St Mirren 4-1 to record a first league win of the season.The hosts were in total control of the match from the moment former Don Declan Gallagher was dismissed after 22 minutes, with Bojan Miovski netting from the penalty spot and then adding a second.Substitute Leighton Clarkson then fired home a stunning third o...Full Story »

MK Dons manager Liam Manning was left frustrated by penalties given and not given as his side lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday to suffer a second straight defeat.You would not blame Manning for being sick of the sight of Owls goalkeeper David Stockdale, who made several fine saves to follow up his heroics for Wycombe against the Dons in last season’s Sky Bet League One play-off semi-finals....Full Story »

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou expressed satisfaction over his squad’s strength in depth after late call-up Moritz Jenz scored a crucial debut goal against Ross County.The on-loan Lorient centre-back headed home Celtic’s second goal in the 84th minute before the cinch Premiership champions went on to seal a 3-1 victory in Dingwall.With Carl Starfelt only just recovered from a hamstr...Full Story »

Paul Hartley was happy with his Hartlepool side, as they started to show their worth.Pools were humbled 4-0 at Walsall on the opening day but recovered to record a first point of the season at home to AFC Wimbledon.It is a new-look Pools side with 14 new signings arriving and more to come, and new manager Hartley said: “We were really good second half and if we keep performing like that an...Full Story »

Boreham Wood survived a pair of second-half red cards to open their National League campaign with a 1-0 win at Southend.The Wood went ahead just short of the half-hour mark as two new signings combined, Danny Newton poking home after Dion Kelly-Evans had delivered a low cross having been released down the right wing.Callum Powell drew a save from Nathan Ashmore with a bending effort shortly afte...Full Story »

Former Newport manager Michael Flynn returned to haunt the Exiles as his Walsall side maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with 1-0 win at Rodney Parade.Flynn’s men thumped Hartlepool 4-0 at home on the opening day, but they had to rely on a Mickey Demetriou own goal midway through the second half to seal another three points in south Wales.James Rowberry’s County have j...Full Story »

Oldham held on for a 0-0 draw at Torquay after Dan Gardner was sent off in the 74th minute.The hosts struck the underside of the crossbar after only four minutes, Will Goodwin volleying against the woodwork after the ball was headed down to him by Ali Omar from Kieron Evans’ chip into the box.Goodwin then drew a save from Magnus Norman with a low drive, before Torquay goalkeeper Mark Halst...Full Story »

Solihull Moors kicked off their Vanarama National League season in style with a decisive 4-1 victory at Aldershot.Joe Sbarra opened his account at the 15-minute mark when he connected with Ryan Barnett’s cross to send a low, left-footed strike into the back of the net.Inih Effiong soon levelled proceedings with a nodded effort, but the Moors retook the lead within three minutes through Cal...Full Story »

Summer signing Macaulay Langstaff scored twice as Notts County opened their Vanarama National League campaign with a 3-0 win over Maidenhead at Meadow Lane.Langstaff, brought from Gateshead where he scored 32 goals last season, broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when he finished off a sweeping team move.The 25-year-old forward grabbed his second just before half-time, slotting in a left-foot ...Full Story »