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Summary

  • First Saturday of 2019-20 English Football League season

  • Freak Phillips goal gives Baggies victory at Forest

  • Relegated Fulham and Cardiff beaten at Barnsley and Wigan

  • Promoted Charlton win at Blackburn; wins for away sides Birmingham, Sheff Wed and QPR

  • Leyton Orient beat Cheltenham after tribute to Justin Edinburgh

  • League Two newcomers Salford City beat Stevenage 2-0 in first EFL match

  1. See you tomorrow!published at 19:46 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    That does indeed conclude our coverage of the opening Saturday of the 2019-20 EFL season.

    But you won't have to wait long for your next Championship football fix.

    Less that 24 hours in fact, as we'll be back tomorrow afternoon when Leeds United travel to Bristol City. Kick-off is at 16:30 BST.

    Until then, goodbye!

  2. O's win as they remember Edinburghpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    League One and Two headlines

    Coventry celebrateImage source, Getty Images
    • Coventry beat Southend in their first 'home' game based at Birmingham's St Andrew's ground.
    • Fancied Ipswich won at Burton, Sunderland drew with Oxford while Portsmouth lost at Shrewsbury.
    • Troubled Bolton beaten 2-0 at Wycombe after including 13 potential debutants in matchday squad.
    • Leyton Orient begin life back in EFL with win over Cheltenham on day they paid tribute to late boss Justin Edinburgh.
    • Salford start life in League Two with 2-0 win over Stevenage.
  3. Joy for promoted teams in Championshippublished at 19:40 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Barnsley celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    It was a thrilling day in the Championship, with only one game being won by more than one-goal - and that was a 97th-minute clincher for Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-1 win at Reading.

    • Promoted Barnsley beat fancied Fulham at Oakwell, while fellow relegated side Cardiff were beaten at Wigan.
    • League One play-off winners Charlton started the season with a 2-1 win at Blackburn courtesy of Lyle Taylor's winner.
    • New managers Mark Warburton, Steve Cooper and Pep Clotet all won their first games in charge of QPR, Swansea and Birmingham respectively.
  4. Postpublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Well, after seven and a half hour or more of EFL action, that's about all we have time for you this evening.

    But before we leave, here's a reminder of today's headlines.

  5. Postpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    West Brom midfielder Romaine Swayers, who was previously at the club as a youngster, told Sky Sports:

    "It felt amazing - the club means a lot to me and it was good to see people like Nathan getting trusted by the gaffer.

    "In pre-season he's worked really hard and he's taken it in his stride. Hopefully he can build on it.

    "I have unfinished business here. The club did everything for me in terms of coming through the academy and it's time to start repaying them back."

  6. Postpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Forest v WBAImage source, Rex Features

    West Brom defender Nathan Ferguson, who was making his first-team debut, told Sky Sports:

    "It was a surreal experience. The gaffer trusted me and that's all I wanted.

    "I'm not really a nervous person and the supporters made it easier."

  7. Postpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Let's get some post-match reaction with two very happy West Brom players.

  8. Postpublished at 19:26 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    FT: Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Forest raced out of the traps and led early on through Matty Cash.

    But Albion stunned their hosts as Kyle Edwards fired Slaven Bilic's side level before Matt Phillips' cross looped in off the far post.

    Forest keeper Aro Muric will have felt he could and should have done better with the first goal and possibly the second.

  9. FULL-TIMEpublished at 19:23 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    West Brom celebrateImage source, Rex Features

    It's all over and Forest are beaten at the City Ground on the opening day of a season for the first time since 1983.

  10. Postpublished at 90+ 4 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Into the final 90 seconds.

  11. Postpublished at 90 + 3 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Time is starting to run out for the home side. Nathan Ferguson wins a goal kick for his Albion side.

    Sam Johnstone will take his time over this.

  12. Postpublished at 90 + 2 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Forest hurl a long throw into the box but Albion again deal with it.

    Moments later Lewis Grabban does get his head on a cross but his effort lacks power and Albion keeper Sam Johnstone gathers.

  13. 'I've got no complaints'published at 19:19 British Summer Time 3 August 2019

    Reaction: Reading 1-3 Sheff Wed

    Lee Bullen started his third spell as Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager with an impressive opening-day victory at Reading but the Owls boss was nervous in the last 15 minutes.

    "It was shaky after Keiren Westwood was sent off, at 2-1 up you're always scared that with one lapse of concentration you go away with nothing. We will play a lot better and lose games," Bullen told ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Sheffield.

    "From the discipline and the communication side of things it was such a professional performance.

    "I've got no complaints. Would I want us to player better as a team? Absolutely - and we will player better as a team but the first game of any season is such an anomaly you don't know what you are going to get.

    "We bit our nails at times but we got through it."

  14. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Into five added minutes. There is still time for the home side.

  15. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Was that the chance for Forest?

    Ben Watson swings over a cross from the right but Sammy Ameobi can only bobble his header wide from eight yards.

  16. SUBSTITUTION FOR FORESTpublished at 88 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Forest make their final change as Brennan Johnson, son of former Reds and Ipswich striker David, replaces Alfa Semedo.

  17. Postpublished at 86 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Both centre-halves are up as Forest search for an equaliser.

    Michael Dawson sees a shot blocked by Kyle Bartley before Joe Worrall slices harmlessly wide from distance.

  18. YELLOW CARDpublished at 85 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Into the last five minutes and Forest will have a corner as Rafa Mir's shot is deflected wide.

    Before it's taken Romaine Sawyers is shown a yellow card for an attempted trip on the striker.

  19. SUBSTITUTION FOR WEST BROMpublished at 83 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    Finally Albion decide it will be Kyle Edwards who will make way. Rekeem Harper is on in midfield.

  20. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Nottm Forest 1-2 West Brom

    West Brom want to make their final substitution but Kyle Edwards and Jake Livermore are both down with cramp.

    Slaven Bilic was going to take Matt Phillips off. Now who does he choose?