Watford made a pace-setting start as the 2023-24 Sky Bet Championship season commenced.
First-half goals from Tom Dele-Bashiru, Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Bayo saw the Hornets hammer QPR 4-0 to win their first match under Valerien Ismael at Vicarage Road and sit top of the table.
Andre Vidigal’s brace in first-half injury time fired Stoke up to second with a ruthless 4-1 home win over Rotherham, with Ki-Jana Hoever and Jacob Brown also netting for the Potters despite Lee Peltier scoring a 48th minute consolatory goal for the Millers.
Newly-promoted Plymouth Argyle produced a stunning 3-1 home win over Huddersfield to go third in the table, with summer signings – Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba both finding the net as did Ryan Hardie whilst Michal Helik briefly equalised for the Terriers in first-half injury-time.
Broady with our first goal of the season! 🤟#itfc
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) August 6, 2023
Nathan Broadhead produced a goal and assisted in George Hirst’s goal as newly-promoted Ipswich stunned ten-men Sunderland 2-1 to sit fourth in the table, despite Dan Neil’s late volley for the Black Cats after Trai Hume was sent off.
Che Adams struck a 87th minute winner to put Southampton fifth with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on the return of both clubs to the second tier, after Adam Armstrong’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Lee Gregory.
Quick-fire goals from Dilan Markanday and Harry Leonard saw Blackburn defeat West Brom 2-1 at Ewood Park to round out the top six, despite Matt Phillips’ 50th minute consolatory for the Baggies who had manager – Carlos Corberan red carded for dissent.
It means a lot đź’™ pic.twitter.com/tbF3Q7qpe9
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 6, 2023
Elsewhere, last season’s losing play-off finalists, Coventry suffered an opening weekend defeat as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s late brace saw Leicester snatch a comeback 2-1 victory in the M69 derby on their return to the Championship after a decade.
Middlesbrough began their first full season under Michael Carrick with a sloppy defeat at home to Millwall, courtesy of Romain Esse’s 79th minute curled winner in a tightly-fought contest.
Crysencio Summerville provided an assist for Liam Cooper’s header before he struck an injury-time equaliser, as Leeds came from 2-0 down at half-time to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Cardiff.
Adam Idah’s injury-time winner saw Norwich fight back for a controversial win at home to Hull, after Jonathan Rowe had cancelled out Liam Delap‘s opening debut strike for the visitors.
Will Keane cancelled out Sam Bell’s opening goal as Preston fought back to draw 1-1 away at Bristol City.
Finally, debut strikes from Jerry Yates and Siriki Dembele saw Swansea and Birmingham City play out a 1-1 draw.
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