CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP: Hull City thump Preston 4-1 at Deepdale to set the early pace while newly promoted Blackpool snatch a last gasp 1-1 draw at Bristol City
- Blackburn beat Swansea 2-1 thanks to Ben Brereton’s second half penalty
- Sam Surridge scored a late winner for Stoke as they beat Reading 3-2 at home
- Luton got off to the perfect start beating Peterborough 3-0 at Kenilworth Road
- London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Millwall shared a point after a 1-1 draw
Hull made a winning start on their return to the Sky Bet Championship as Grant McCann’s men came from behind to triumph 4-1 at at Preston.
After Emil Riis Jakobsen’s early opener was cancelled out by Keane Lewis-Potter in the 35th minute, Richard Smallwood put the visitors ahead with a deflected strike in the 62nd minute.
Josh Magennis and substitute Andy Cannon then added late efforts to wrap up the Tigers’ thumping victory.
Hull City went top of the Championship table after thrashing Preston 4-1 at Deepdale
Ben Brereton wheels away after his penalty put Blackburn Rovers 2-1 up against Swansea
Swansea, the beaten Championship play-off finalists, lost their first competitive game under new boss Russell Martin, 2-1 at Blackburn.
Rovers scored through Sam Gallagher and a Ben Brereton Diaz penalty either side of the interval before Jamie Paterson reduced the deficit.
Barnsley’s first league match with Markus Schopp in charge saw them claim a 1-1 draw at Cardiff.
Toby Sibbick equalised for the Tykes in the 69th minute after Marlon Pack had put Cardiff in front nine minutes into the second half.
Stoke City striker Sam Surridge (right) celebrates after scoring a late winner against Reading
Debutant Sam Surridge’s last-gasp effort secured Stoke a thrilling 3-2 win over Reading on the opening day of the new Championship campaign.
The 23-year-old came off the bench to fire the hosts to their first opening-day victory since 2009.
Michael O’Neill’s Potters were twice pegged back in an entertaining encounter at the Bet365 as Nick Powell and Jacob Brown’s efforts were cancelled out by John Swift and Liam Moore.
But Surridge secured a welcome three points as fans returned to the ground for the first time in 18 months.
Blackpool players celebrate after Shayne Lavery’s injury time equaliser at Ashton Gate
Shayne Lavery’s last-gasp equaliser earned newly-promoted Blackpool a 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The game was deep into stoppage time when Josh Bowler crossed low from the left for fellow substitute Lavery to fire home from close range.
City had looked set for their first home win since January when Chris Martin powerfully headed home Andy King’s 44th-minute cross from the right.
But Lavery’s strike kept Nigel Pearson waiting for his first victory at Ashton Gate and sent travelling fans behind the goal into wild scenes of celebration.
Elijah Adebayo (left) celebrates after putting Luton Town 1-0 up against Peterborough United
Luton ensured their supporters enjoyed the perfect return to Kenilworth Road by putting on a show with a thumping 3-0 opening-day win over newly-promoted Peterborough.
Town had the lead on 31 minutes though as Onyedinma’s deep cross from the right-hand side was met by Elijah Adebayo, whose downward header went into the net via the inside of the post.
After the break, Bree tried his luck from range for the hosts but Christy Pym saved comfortably, but the visitors should have been reduced to 10 men when captain Mark Beevers was only shown a yellow for handball despite being the last man.
Bree sent the free kick wide, but Luton were not to be kept out for long as Onyedinma reached the byline and his cross was converted by the onrushing Cornick on 68 minutes.
A third arrived three minutes later though when Bree delivered a wonderful ball from the right and there was Onyedinma, whose first effort was saved by Pym but the rebound was gleefully hammered into the net by the summer signing.
Queens Park Rangers defender Rob Dickie celebrates after equalising against Millwall
Both teams scored brilliant goals in a breathless first half as QPR and Millwall drew 1-1 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
The visitors had the better of the first 45 minutes and Jed Wallace gave them a deserved lead before Rob Dickie’s strike hauled Rangers level.
Many Millwall fans booed the pre-match taking of a knee – although the anti-racism gesture was only observed by four QPR players – with the Lions having announced beforehand that their team would not be taking part.