Key events
News from Scotland, where Elgin City have been beaten by East Kilbride in Scottish League Two, and that a first ever league win for East Kilbride. The celebrations will be huge among the Reid brothers, Kirsty Young and wee Ally McCoist. Lorraine Kelly will be cock-a-hoop, too, having been to school there.
Jack Currie has gone close as Oxford push for an equaliser against Portsmouth. Same goes for Lewis Baker as Stoke keeper Jacob Widell Zetterström makes a fine save.
Some very bad body language from Stoke’s Dutchman, Million Manhoef, as he is subbed off by Mark Robins. No handshake as he runs off the pitch. That’s not the done thing.
Goal! Norwich 1-2 Millwall (Langstaff, 83)
A great ball from Doughty and Langstaff tempts Vladan Kovačević out of the Norwich goal and slots.
Wycombe were two goals down to Stockport, have made five changes after missing a penalty and now Jamie Mullins’ goal has them back in it at 1-2. Ollie Norwood, once of Sheffield United, had been stroking it around until Mike Dodds made those changes.
Goal! Stoke 1-1 Derby (Baker, 70)
The midfielder Lewis Baker takes a pass from Sorba Thomas and unleashes a beauty.
Stoke could have levelled against Derby but new signing Sorba Thomas misses a good chance.
It’s Bolton 2-0 Plymouth: Argyle’s return to League One is going the way of their Championship campaign. Not a great start from Tom “The Brand” Cleverley.
Goal! Stoke 0-1 Derby (Morris, 60)
The former Luton striker stabs in a cross and Derby lead in the A50 derby match.
Goal! Norwich 1-1 Millwall (Sargent, 55)
The American, captain for Canaries, blocks a clearance from Steven Benda and Norwich are back in it. Will Sargent stay?
Swindon are leading 3-1 against Cambridge now, scoring three unanswered goals, through Darren Oldaker.
Goal! Norwich 0-1 Millwall (Neghli, 51)
A neat finish, and a deserved lead for the Lions, and a strike from one of their talents, who was a doubt to play today.
Goal! Middlesbrough 1-0 Swansea (Fry, 51)
A crashing header from a corner, and that’s the first goal of Handsome Rob Edwards’ Boro reign.
Goal! QPR 1-1 Preston (Osmajic, 48)
There’s been an equaliser at Loftus Road. It’s a beauty from the PNE top man, one hell of a finish, in fact, scored on the counter.
We go back underway in the Championship, where Hannah Hampton has been the guest of honour at West Brom, boing-boinging in her shirt at half-time.
That is all from me today but John Brewin is here to take you through the next 45 minutes and the later kick-offs. Enjoy!
Half-time around the grounds
Championship
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Middlesbrough 0-0 Swansea
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Norwich 0-0 Millwall
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Oxford Utd 0-1 Portsmouth
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QPR 1-0 Preston North End
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Stoke 0-0 Derby
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West Brom 1-0 Blackburn
League One
League Two
GOAL! QPR 1-0 Preston (Whiteman 41 og)
The hosts lead after a bit of a nightmare from Whiteman. A cross comes in and his clearance is fast and low … and into his own net.
GOAL! Oxford 0-1 Portsmouth (Segecic 38)
The home side’s highline has come to haunt them. Bishop has a shot saved but Segecic finds the space and he hits it low and into the bottom corner in his debut.
Goal! Barnsley 0-2 Burton (Tavares 35)
Right in front of the away fans Tavares doubles the visitors’ league after rounding the keeper and slotting it home into an empty net.
More goals in League Two! Crewe are up 2-0 against Accrington after Agius’ smart finish into the top corner.
Swindon were 1-0 down but are now 2-1 up against Cambridge. Smith with the counter to double their lead and he leaps for joy in celebration.
Goal! Fleetwood 1-0 Bristol Rovers (Davies 25)
Bonds puts in a peach of a ball for Davies who makes space before finding the opener.
Goal! Exeter 2-1 Blackpool (Fletcher 21)
Another at St James Park as Fletcher converts from a free-kick to bring one back!
Goal! Bolton 1-0 Plymouth (Toal 23)
It is the skipper for the hosts as Sheehan’s corner drifts to the back post and Toal is there to head it in.
RED CARD! Wimbledon 0-0 Lincoln
Jackson for Lincoln gets sent off. It initially looks like a 50/50 but his leg is way too high as he tries to contest the ball. Down to 10!
Goal! Crewe 1-0 Accrington (Hutchinson 18)
March finds Hutchinson off and he makes the shot into the top corner look easy.
Goal! Leyton Orient 1-0 Wigan (Sessegnon 18 og)
Yikes! Sessegnon has just chested the ball into his own net after some confusion from Wigan in the back. The keeper tries to claw it out but with no luck.
Goal! Exeter 2-0 Blackpool (Fitzwater 15)
A fast start for the hosts! Cole turns from goal scorer to assist-maker after he swings in a corner which falls straight to Fitzwater. Blackpool look frazzled.
GOAL! West Brom 1-0 Blackburn (Price 15)
First goal of the Championship 3pm kick-offs and you can’t say it isn’t deserved. The visitors fail to clear their lines after a long throw and Price takes advantage, getting on the end of it before firing the opener.
Goal! Exeter 1-0 Blackpool (Cole 4)
A well-worked throw-in! From Wareham it goes to Cole who takes a few touches before netting it straight into the bottom corner.
Goal! Wycombe 0-1 Stockport (Wootton 9)
Diamond gets into the box before pulling it back to Wootton for an easy shot from close range.
Goal! Oldham 0-1 Colchester (Tucker 8)
An early corner is well worked and a good cross finds the head of Tucker who scores his first goal for the club.
Goal! Swindon 0-1 Cambridge (Brophy 4)
And the first goal of the afternoon kick-offs in League Two. Kaikai puts the ball in that is headed into the path of Brophy. He hits it first-time right into the roof of the net.
Goal! Barnsley 0-1 Burton (Beesley 4)
An elbow comes out in the box and the referee points to the spot. The No 9 is cool and calm and slots it into the left of the goalkeeper.
Afternoon kick-offs
Here we go!
Championship
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Middlesbrough v Swansea
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Norwich v Millwall
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Oxford Utd v Portsmouth
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QPR v Preston North End
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Stoke v Derby
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West Brom v Blackburn
League One
League Two
Ben Fisher was at St Mary’s and here is his verdict:
On this evidence the Welsh club – back at this level for the first time since 1982 after an extraordinary rise from non-league – are sure to be a fun addition but how they were given a galling reminder of the step up in trip, Saints scoring twice in the final nine minutes to earn a comeback victory and a first under Will Still.
Preston North End have welcomed Morecambe fans to watch their first home game of the season against Leicester tomorrow.
The club said in a statement:
In light of the current situation at Morecambe Football Club, Preston North End are inviting Morecambe season card holders to attend next weekend’s match at Deepdale free of charge.
Here at PNE, the club has a key focus on bringing the community together, and that extends beyond just our supporters. We feel for the fans and staff of Morecambe at this uncertain time, with the future of their club in doubt, and at a time where football is back it is not right that those fans are deprived of the opportunity to watch their team.
Therefore the club are inviting all Morecambe 2025-26 season card holders to attend our Sky Bet Championship match against Leicester City on Saturday 16 August free of charge. Full details of how Morecambe fans can claim their ticket* will be confirmed on Monday 11 August.
We look forward to welcoming supporters of Morecambe next weekend and bringing the football community together at Deepdale.
*Each 2025/26 season card holder at Morecambe can claim one match ticket, free of charge.
Early kick-off results
Championship
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Charlton 1-0 Watford
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Coventry 0-0 Hull
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Southampton 2-1 Wrexham
League One
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Peterborough 0-2 Luton
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Reading 0-2 Huddersfield
League Two
Late goal at Charlton! Harvey Knibbs, the new signing, scores with the inside of his right boot from a corner. Watford left shaking their heads.
Still goalless at Charlton and Coventry but there is late drama at Southampton. Catch up here with John Brewin.
In League One Luton are comfortably 2-0 up against Peterborough and Huddersfield is a goal up against Reading thanks to Jack Whatmough.
Tranmere have four against Shrewsbury and Notts County have pulled one back against Salford City.
Championship team news
Oxford United XI: Cumming, Spencer, Moore, Helik, Leigh, Brannagan, Vaulks, Mills, Lankshear, Goodrham, Mark Harris
Portsmouth XI: Schmid, Williams, Shaughnessy, Poole, Ogilvie,
Swift, Dozzell, Segecic, Lang, Bianchini, Bishop
West Brom XI: Griffiths, Furlong, Phillips, Heggem, Styles, Molumby, Mowatt, Fellows, Price, Grant, Heggebo
Blackburn Rovers XI: Toth, Alebiosu, Hyam, McLoughlin, Ribeiro, Travis, Tronstad, Hedges, Henriksson, De Neve, Ohashi
Stoke XI: Johansson, Tchamadeu, Lawal, Wilmot, Cresswell, Pearson, Baker, Junho, Manhoef, Thomas, Mubama
Derby XI: Widell Zetterstrom, Adams, Batth, Blackett-Taylor, Clarke, Forsyth, Goudmijn, Jackson, Morris, Nyambe, Thompson
Middlesbrough XI: Brynn, Brittain, Jones, Fry, Ayling, Morris,
Hackney, Whittaker, Burgzorg, Silvera, Conway
Swansea XI: Vigouroux, Key, Cabango, Burgess, Tymon,
Goncalo Franco, Fulton, Galbraith, Ronald, Cullen, Eom
Norwich XI: Kovacevic, Medic, Darling, Cordoba, Stacey, Wright, Topic, Schlupp, Forson, Crnac, Sargent
Millwall XI: Benda, Crama, Cooper, Tanganga, Mitchell, Ivanovic, Neghli, Azeez, Doughty, Coburn, De Norre
QPR XI: Walsh, Morrison, Dembele, Field, Celar, Chair, Poku, Morgan, Madsen, Mbengue, Esquerdinha
Preston North End XI: Iversen, Gibson, Hughes, McCann, Osmajic, Small, Smith, Storey, Thordarson, Vukcevic, Whiteman
It is not too late to have a taste of our Championship preview. Who is a shoo-in to be promoted? Who looks in trouble? Which youngsters will impress? Ben Fisher has the lowdown.
Score updates around the grounds
Championship
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Charlton 0-0 Watford
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Coventry 0-0 Hull
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Southampton 0-1 Wrexham
League One
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Peterborough 0-1 Luton
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Reading 0-0 Huddersfield
League Two
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our Saturday EFL clockwatch with action from League One, League Two and the opening weekend of the Championship.
Southampton are currently trailing against Wrexham at home. Join John Brewin for MBM updates here.
Earlier we had our first matchday live and discussion is continuing below the line until 5.30pm BST.
Lots of games. Lots to look forward to. If you have any thoughts, predictions, transfer grievances or pre-match rituals you want to share, feel free to send me an email, which you can find at the top of this blog.
#West #Brom #Blackburn #Norwich #Millwall #Championship #clockwatch #live #Championship
