EFL Set For Busy Opening Saturday

Just 84 days after Hull beat Middlesbrough in the Championship Play-off Final, we’re back in business in the English Football League.

Last night saw Wolves face Blackburn in the EFL curtain-raiser, with a late Raul Jimenez penalty saving the hosts’ blushes after Rovers came from behind to lead until second-half stoppage time.

And in our first Saturday of the season we have a packed out schedule across the Championship and Leagues One and Two.

Top of the billing in the second tier has to be the Lancashire Derby in the 12:30 kick-off as newly promoted Bolton face Preston.

In the 3 o’clocks, Middlesbrough will be hoping to put play-off heartbreak to one side when they face Championship new boys Lincoln, while new Bristol City boss Michael Skubala faces a tough opening test when his side host Millwall.

Over in League One, Leicester City will be hoping to bounce back from a tumultuous couple of years when they face Notts County at the King Power at lunchtime.

Meanwhile, Oxford United are back in the third tier after dropping down from the Championship, and new boss Aaron Ramsey’s first league game in charge is the visit of Paul Warne’s MK Dons.

And we also have Bromley, playing their first ever game at this level, taking on Barnsley at 3 o’clock.

Finally, we have a full billing of League Two action, featuring two promoted National League sides that both amassed more than 100 points on their way back to the EFL.

First up are Rochdale at 12:30, who head to a Newport side that survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, before National League play-off winners York face Bristol Rovers, who are one of the most favoured sides with the bookies for promotion this season.