Brighton snatched a dramatic win over Doncaster, while Ipswich secured a convincing victory at Bristol City.
Seagulls snatch comeback; Ipswich triumph; Reading clinch draw
Brighton snatched a dramatic last-gasp win against Doncaster at their new stadium, while Ipswich secured a convincing victory at Bristol City.
New signing Will Buckley helped last season's League One champions
Brighton pull off a stunning comeback to triumph 2-1 against
Doncaster Rovers in the first match at their new Amex Stadium.
Billy Sharp notched the opener for Rovers but substitute Buckley, who joined from Watford this summer, managed to bag a late double in a clash which saw Seagulls manager Gus Poyet sent to the stands for questioning the referee's decision to book Kazenga LuaLua.
Debutant Michael Chopra got off to a bright start with a double for
Ipswich to inspire their 3-0 triumph at
Bristol City.
Midfielder Lee Martin was also on target with a 51st-minute strike as Paul Jewell's Tractor Boys completed a convincing triumph at Ashton Gate.
Saturday's lunchtime kick-off saw early title favourites
Leicester get their new campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory in a dramatic M69 derby at
Coventry, with both sides earning first-half red cards.
Foxes striker Darius Vassell and Sky Blues midfielder Carl Baker were handed their marching orders for reckless challenges in the opening period before Lee Peltier found the winner for the visitors shortly after the break.
Scrapped
Last season's beaten play-off finalists
Reading scrapped for a 2-2 draw at home to
Millwall, with Mathieu Manset's last-gasp double securing them a point.
The Lions had looked home and dry after Darius Henderson and John Marquis put them 2-0 up but the hosts managed to pull off a dramatic comeback in the dying minutes.
New signing Jason Shackell scored on his debut for
Derby, cancelling out an early opener from
Birmingham defender Curtis Davies.
Steve Davies fired home the winner three minutes before half-time, handing the Rams a 2-1 home victory to start their season on a high note.
Middlesbrough are another side tipped for promotion this season but they were pegged to a 2-2 draw at home to
Portsmouth.
David Norris pulled Pompey back into contention after Marvin Emnes opened the scoring in the first half, then came back again as Luke Varney cancelled out Rhys Williams' strike in stoppage time.
Impressive comeback
Burnley also pulled off an impressive comeback at home to
Watford to salvage a 2-2 draw, with Keith Treacy finding a late equaliser.
Hornets new-boy Craig Forsyth made an instant impact with the opener before fellow summer signing Mark Yeates added another, but Charlie Austin and Treacy were on target to earn a share of the spoils for the Clarets.
Promoted
Peterborough came from behind to win 2-1 at home to
Crystal Palace, with Grant McCann and substitute David Ball turning the clash around with second-half goals.
Sean Scannell had fired the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute but McCann equalised for the Posh after the break before Ball came off the bench to add another.
Neither
Nottingham Forest nor
Barnsley could break the deadlock at the City Ground, with their clash ending in a 0-0 stalemate.
In Saturday's late game, promoted
Southampton beat
Leeds 3-1 at St Mary's.
Well-taken goals from Dean Hammond, Adam Lallana and David Connolly put Saints in control before the visitors netted a consolation through Max Gradel's stoppage-time penalty.
