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Goal! Stoke 1-1 Derby (Baker, 70)
The midfielder Lewis Baker takes a pass from Sorba Thomas and unleashes a beauty.
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Stoke could have levelled against Derby but new signing Sorba Thomas misses a good chance.
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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.
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Goal! Stoke 0-1 Derby (Morris, 60)
The former Luton striker stabs in a cross and Derby lead in the A50 derby match.
Carlton Morris (right), and the travelling fans, celebrate as his goal gives Derby County the lead at Stoke. Photograph: Gary Oakley/PAShare
Updated at 11.27 EDT
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?
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Swindon are leading 3-1 against Cambridge now, scoring three unanswered goals, through Darren Oldaker.
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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.
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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.
Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry scores his side’s first goal of the game against Swansea City. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PAWhich pleases him (centre) and his teammates. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PAShare
Updated at 11.20 EDT
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.
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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.
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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!
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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
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Updated at 10.50 EDT
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.
Dejection for Preston North End after going one goal down at Queens Park Rangers. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.21 EDT
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.
Adrian Segecic (third left) celebrates with his Portsmouth teammates after opening the scoring at Oxford United. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 10.53 EDT
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.
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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.
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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.
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Goal! Exeter 2-1 Blackpool (Fletcher 21)
Another at St James Park as Fletcher converts from a free-kick to bring one back!
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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.
Bolton Wanderers’ Eoin Toal (centre) celebrates scoring the opening goal as Max Conway gives chase. Photograph: Lee Parker/CameraSport/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 11.23 EDT
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!
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Goal! Crewe 1-0 Accrington (Hutchinson 18)
March finds Hutchinson off and he makes the shot into the top corner look easy.
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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.
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Updated at 10.23 EDT
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.
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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.
Isaac Price (right) is congratulated by his West Bromwich Albion teammates after opening the scoring against Blackburn Rovers. Photograph: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 10.35 EDT
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Updated at 10.03 EDT
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
Harvey Knibbs of Charlton Athletic scores a goal to make the score 1-0 against Watford. Photograph: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty ImagesKnibbs celebrates. Photograph: James Fearn/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 10.02 EDT
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.
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Updated at 09.28 EDT
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
The Derby County players warm up at Stoke. Photograph: Gary Oakley/PA
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
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Updated at 10.16 EDT
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.
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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
Josh Windass gets Wrexham on the board. Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock
League One
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Peterborough 0-1 Luton
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Reading 0-0 Huddersfield
League Two
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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.
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