Championship round-up: Watford top league after opening weekend
Southampton 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
The 2023/24 Championship season kicked off with a 2-1 win for Russell Martin’s Southampton, as Ché Adams’ late strike gave his side a fifth consecutive H2H victory against newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday.
Blackburn 2-1 West Brom
Blackburn Rovers staked an early claim as one of the Championship front-runners with a 2-1 victory against fellow promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion, extending the Baggies’ miserable run at Ewood Park to eight defeats from their last 14 visits.
Bristol City 1-1 Preston
Bristol City endured a frustrating opening day of the Championship season, squandering the lead in a 1-1 draw with Preston North End.
Will Keane’s late leveller salvaged a point for the Lilywhites, although they remain winless in six H2H league meetings.
Middlesbrough 0-1 Millwall
Millwall struck late to earn a deserved 1-0 over an impotent Middlesbrough side which saw the hosts extend their awful record on the opening day of the season to seven-straight games without a win.
Norwich 2-1 Hull
Adam Idah netted a 96th-minute winner for Norwich City, as David Wagner’s side picked up just their second victory on the opening day of the season in seven attempts, beating Hull City in dramatic fashion at Carrow Road.
Plymouth 3-1 Huddersfield
Steven Schumacher’s Plymouth Argyle ran out convincing 3-1 winners at Home Park against Huddersfield Town.
Thanks much to Morgan Whittaker’s goal and assist, the Pilgrims have now won 21 of their last 24 home games in any league competition (D1, L2).
Stoke 4-1 Rotherham
André Vidigal had a competitive Stoke City debut to remember, as his first-half stoppage time brace helped the Potters on their way to a comprehensive 4-1 victory over 10-man Rotherham United at the Bet365 Stadium – the hosts’ first H2H success over the Millers since October 2020.
Swansea 1-1 Birmingham
A debut goal from striker Jerry Yates earned Michael Duff a point in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City in his first game as Swansea City manager, as the former Blackpool marksman cancelled out Blues debutant Siriki Dembélé’s first-half opener.
Watford 4-0 QPR
Watford put Queen’s Park Rangers to the sword at Vicarage Road on match-day one of the 2023/24 EFL Championship season with a 4-0 demolition.
The emphatic result marks a first victory for the Hornets in eight league H2Hs against the Rangers.
Leicester 2-1 Coventry
Leicester City endured a difficult return to the EFL Championship, but came from behind to claim a 2-1 win against Coventry City.
The result also marks a continuation of the Sky Blues’ woes at the King Power Stadium, with no win there since its 2002 inauguration.
Leeds 2-2 Cardiff
Leeds United recovered from 2-0 down to salvage a draw in a thrilling Championship opener with Cardiff City, as Crysencio Summerville’s 95th minute leveller denied the Bluebirds just a third opening day win in 11 seasons (D4, L4).
Sunderland 1-2 Ipswich
Ipswich Town began life back in the Championship by running out 2-1 winners in a thriller against 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Goals from former Black Cat Nathan Broadhead and new permanent signing George Hirst helped extend the Tractor Boys’ unbeaten league run to 20 games in the process.
