Late goals change things in opening games

Jimmy McIlroy receiving his MBE and watched to the right by chairman Barry Kilby, flanked by Jimmy's son Paul and daughter Anne

On a special day when Jimmy McIlroy received his MBE in front of the Turf Moor crowd, we were 2-0 down with 13 minutes to go but goals from Charlie Austin and Keith Treacy  earned us a point, but elsewhere the late replies were even more dramatic and none more so than at Reading.

The Royals were 2-0 down with just four minutes of normal time remaining but substitute Mathieu Manset, the former Hereford striker, netted twice to grab a point. The first was a superb finish and a real contender for Championship goal of the day.

Portsmouth were another side to earn a point with a late goal; Luke Varney's effort coming two minutes into stoppage time at Middlesbrough but the latest goal of the day came

The latest goal of the day came in a feisty encounter as the Amex Stadium at Brighton opened its doors for its first ever league game.  Will Buckley, a £1 million signing from Watford, scored twice to win the game for them with the winner coming in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Referee Eddie Ilderton found it a difficult game to handle. He yellow carded Kazenga Lua Lua for diving, a decision that so incensed home boss Gus Poyet that he was sent to the stands.

Doncaster then saw both strikers, Billy Sharp and James Hayter, stretchered off with what are reported to be serious injuries. Hayter's departure came when Doncaster had already used their substitutes and it produced a classic piece of commentary on the BBC's Football League Show.

"If Hayter does have to come off Doncaster will be down to ten men," they reported with the player just yards from the touchline on a stretcher and heading for the dressing rooms.

If that was feisty then goodness knows what you'd call the game between Coventry and Leicester at the Ricoh. Referee Darren Deadman became the first referee to get his red card out this season and also the second as he dismissed Darius Vassel (Leicester) and then Carl Baker (Coventry).

Sven smiled, admitted Coventry played well, and then presumably looked in his wallet to see how many more players he could afford. The big spenders had seven players making their league debuts including David Nugent who hit the post with a header.

He wasn't the only ex-Claret to find the woodwork. Richard Chaplow, on as a substitute for Southampton, saw a terrific effort tipped onto the post by Leeds goalkeeper and former Preston team mate Andy Lonergan.

Southampton scored some very good goals which gave them a comfortable win but the biggest win of the day went to Ipswich who had a 3-0 success at Bristol CIty. Ipswich won their first away game of the season by the same scoreline three years ago, and we know how that season ended.

So, the first weekend, which started with Blackpool winning at Hull and ended with yet another late goal giving Cardiff a win at West Ham, is over. I suppose if you want to look at league tables you will see Ipswich at the top and Bristol City at the bottom, but quite simply eight teams have three points, eight teams have one point and the remaining eight came out of it with nothing.

The weekend results and stats are below with the leading goalscorers (for now those with two goals), each club's disciplinary record and next week's fixtures.

This season we will also show the top ten highest and lowest attendances in the Championship, but that starts next week once all clubs have played a home game.