Key events
GOAL! Leeds 1-2 Portsmouth (Lang, 41)
Yes, you read that right. Portsmouth are leading Leeds at Elland Road! Callum Lang unleashes a sensational strike from the edge of the penalty area, firing the ball into the bottom-left corner. Now THAT is how you introduce yourself to the Championship.
40 min: Norwich are really struggling against Oxford at the moment. The hosts’ press is proving quite the problem for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side. Angus Gunn has already made an error that could’ve been costly in this first half, but he just pulled off a strong save to spare his team’s blushes before the break.
Wow! What an action-packed start to this EFL return! And we’re not even at half-time yet!
GOAL! Oxford United 1-0 Norwich (Harris, 28)
What a start for the Championship new boys! Mark Harris fires Oxford into the lead! Norwich are stunned!
GOAL! QPR 1-1 West Brom (Maja, 26)
Josh Maja fires the visitors level at Loftus Road!
GOAL! Leeds 1-1 Portsmouth (Sorensen, 23)
The Championship new boys are level! Elias Sorensen equalises for Portsmouth!
GOAL! Middlesborough 1-0 Swansea (Latte Lath, 25)
Emmanuel Latte Lath fires Boro ahead from the penalty spot with a fantastic strike into the top-right corner!
GOAL! Millwall 0-1 Watford (Kayembe, 23)
Definitely not the start the hosts would’ve wanted. Edo Kayembe fires Watford into the lead!
GOAL! Cardiff 0-1 Sunderland (O’Nien, 18)
A corner is sent into the box from the left. It floats over to Dennis Cirkin at the back post, who sets up Luke O’Nien in the six-yard box. The centre-back then gently heads the ball into the net from just two yards out.
GOAL! QPR 1-0 West Brom (Andersen, 17)
Lucas Andersen makes a late run into the box to meet a fantastic Rayan Kolli cross, heading the ball into the top-left corner with great power.
GOAL! Leeds 1-0 Portsmouth (Struijk, 10)
Pascal Struijk converts the spot kick, slotting the ball nicely into the bottom-left corner.
PENALTY! Leeds
Dan James breaks into the box but is caught from behind! A stonewall penalty, no doubt.
5 min: Huge chance for Leeds in the early stages at Elland Road! Jayden Bogle plays the ball through to Georginio Rutter in the box, who squares it back across goal to Wilfried Gnonto. The forward goes for goal but his effort is saved by Will Norris!
Kick-off – Championship
We’re under way in the Championship!
Players will take to the pitch early at The Den this afternoon to pay tribute to Matija Sarkic before Millwall vs Watford. Millwall goalkeeper Sarkic tragically passed away in June aged just 26. The club has since retired the N.20 in his honour.
We start with the Championship. Here are this afternoon’s fixtures…
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Cardiff City vs Sunderland
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QPR vs West Brom
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Middlesbrough vs Swansea
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Leeds United vs Portsmouth
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Millwall vs Watford
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Oxford United vs Norwich City
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Stoke City vs Coventry
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Hull City vs Bristol City
Preamble
Hello, hello and welcome to the first Clockwatch of the season! We have 30 – yes, you read that right, 30 – games of football on offer today as the EFL makes a triumphant return. Think of it as a three course meal.
Starter – Championship action. We kick off today’s proceedings at 12:30pm BST with the likes of Leeds United, Norwich and Watford all live.
Main – League Two. We then dip down to tier four at 3pm BST when 22 of the 24 teams will be in action.
And finally, dessert – League One. We round off the day with 11 third tier fixtures at 5:30pm BST.
Not to mention the Community Shield AND the Olympics happening today as well. SO MUCH SPORT!
I’ll be with you all afternoon, keeping you up to date with every game across the board. Join me!