Plymouth lost their first game since relegation from the Championship, beaten 3-1 at home by 10-man Barnsley on League One’s opening weekend.
The visitors scored two first-half goals against the run of play as Tom Cleverley’s side dominated, with a series of decisions going against them. Barnsley’s Jack Shepherd – booked in the first half as tempers flared – was then shown a second yellow for handball after an hour, but Argyle could not find a way back into the game, and Davis Keillor-Dunn added the visitors’ third late on. Cleverley was also booked.
Cardiff made a winning start to life under their new manager, Brian Barry-Murphy, after fighting back to win 2-1 at home to Peterborough. The new manager fielded Cardiff’s youngest side this century and they fell behind to Bradley Ihionvien’s first-half penalty. The hosts turned it round after the break through new skipper Rubin Colwill’s free-kick and 18-year-old Ronan Kpakio’s first senior goal, a brilliant long-range finish.
Huddersfield head coach Lee Grant also won his first game in charge, 3-0 at home against Leyton Orientwith Joe Low’s opener, £1.2m summer signing Alfie May’s penalty and Ruben Roosken’s stoppage-time effort sealing victory.
Promoted Bradford City held on to beat Wycombe 2-1 at home in front of a near-20,000 crowd at Valley Parade. Antoni Sarcevic and Bobby Pointon put City in control before Daniel Udoh pulled one back for the Chairboys.
Sam Nombe’s first-half double clinched Rotherham’s 2-1 home win against Port Vale as both sides ended the game with 10 men. Vale defender Jaheim Headley was shown a straight red card for his foul on Nombe before half-time and, after Connor Hall had pulled one back for the visitors, Rotherham’s Zak Jules was also dismissed.
Jamie Reid struck twice for Stevenagewho held on to sink Steve Bruce’s Blackpool 3-2 at Bloomfield Road, while Fraser Murray grabbed a double for Wigan in their 3-1 home win over Northampton.
Charlie Webster fired a double as Burton edged former manager Nigel Clough’s Mansfield 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium, Lincoln won 2-0 at home against Reading and Lee Molyneux’s late penalty earned promoted Doncaster a 1-0 win over Exeter.
In League Two, Darrell Clarke’s second spell as Bristol Rovers manager began with a 1-0 home defeat to Harrogatefor whom Stephen Duke-McKenna struck the only goal against the run of play.
Promotion favourites MK Dons were held 0-0 at home by National League play-off winners Oldham and Dilan Markanday’s first-half header secured Chesterfield a 1-0 over Barrow at the SMH Group Stadium.
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Kadeem Harris scored goals at both ends as Crewe won 3-1 at Salfordwhere Conor Thomas struck a late first-half double for the visitors. Barnet came crashing down to earth after promotion as they lost 2-0 at home to Fleetwoodwith Will Davies and Elliot Bonds on target, while Accrington were held 1-1 by Gillingham.
Walsall midfielder Brandon Comley was shown a straight red card in his side’s 1-1 home draw with Swindon. Evan Weir gave the Saddlers an early lead before Will Wright converted a second-half penalty.
Louis Appere’s solitary second-half strike sealed Cambridge’s 1-0 home win against Cheltenham and Kyreece Lisbie’s late equaliser earned Colchester a 1-1 draw against Tranmerewho had led through Connor Jennings.
Jaze Kabia’s early penalty and further efforts from Cameron McJannet and Evan Khouri gave Grimsby a 3-0 home win against Crawley, and Shrewsbury were held 0-0 at Croud Meadow by Bromley.
Newport’s home game against Notts County was delayed for an hour after a fan was taken ill in the stand at Rodney Parade before kick-off. The game finished 1-1, with a penalty from Notts County’s Jodi Jones cancelling out Gerard Garner’s opener.
