EFL goals and round-up: Watford thrash QPR, Reading lose League One opener, Wrexham beaten on League Two return

Watford thrash QPR 4-0 in Championship while Plymouth mark return to second tier with win over Huddersfield; Reading’s first League One game in 21 years ends in defeat against Peterborough; Wrexham and Notts County both lose on their return to League Two following promotion

From eight-goal thrillers to red cards for both players and managers, the EFL is back with a bang. Here’s what happened in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two on Saturday…

Watford laid down an early marker of their Sky Bet Championship promotion credentials with a 4-0 hammering of QPR.

After a disappointing campaign last time out, where they fell short of the play-offs, the Hornets hit the ground running and took the lead after just 36 seconds through Tom Dele-Bashiru.

Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Bayo added first-half goals as the Hornets ran riot against a woeful QPR.

Stoke also did the heavy lifting of their 4-1 win over Rotherham in the first half.

They led in the fifth minute thanks to Ki-Jana Hoever’s opener before Andre Vidigal scored twice in first-half injury time.

Lee Peltier gave the Millers hope after the break but Cafu’s red card ended any hopes of an unlikely comeback, with Jacob Brown adding a late fourth for the hosts.

Plymouth registered their first Championship victory since April 2010 as they beat Huddersfield 3-1.

Last season’s League One champions started the season in style as Morgan Whittaker put them ahead after just six minutes.

Michael Helik equalised for the Terriers on the stroke of half-time but Bali Mumba and Ryan Hardie won it for Argyle in the second half.

Two goals in two first-half minutes laid the foundations of Blackburn‘s 2-1 win over West Brom.

Dilan Markanday got the first in the 20th minute and then straight after Ryan Leonard stroked home.

Matt Phillips gave West Brom hope after the break but they could not find a leveller and a frustrating day for boss Carlos Corberan ended in him being sent off.

Adam Idah scored deep into injury time to earn Norwich a first home win since February as they beat Hull 2-1.

It had looked like being a draw after Liam Delap’s early goal for the Tigers was cancelled out by Jon Rowe’s equaliser before Idah’s heroics.

Romain Esse’s 79th-minute goal gave Millwall a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough, while Will Keane’s return to Preston began with him earning a point with a late goal in a 1-1 draw at Bristol City, who led through Sam Bell’s opener at Ashton Gate.

Jerry Yates’ debut goal for Swansea earned a 1-1 draw against Birmingham, who went in front through Siriki Dembele’s first-half effort.

Sky Bet League One

Reading‘s first third-tier game in 21 years ended in defeat as Ruben Selles began life in charge of the Royals with a 1-0 defeat to Peterborough.

Ephron Mason-Clark struck two minutes before half-time to condemn the home side to an opening-day loss following relegation from the Championship last season, inflicted after they were hit by a six-point deduction for financial irregularities.

Barnsley put the heartbreak of their last-minute defeat in last season’s play-off final behind them by beating Port Vale 7-0 at Oakwell, Devante Cole netting an opening-day hat-trick, while goals from Liam Kitching, Jon Russell and Andrew Dallas and an own-goal from defender Dan Jones capped a miserable start for Vale.

Blackpool fared better after their relegation to League One, running out 2-0 winners against Burton thanks to a Shayne Lavery double at Bloomfield Road.

Wigan also started life back in League One with a 2-1 victory away to Derby, striker Charlie Wyke grabbing both goals for the Latics.

A goal from George Dobson for Charlton on the stroke of half-time sent Leyton Orient to a 1-0 defeat following their promotion from League Two, while Stevenage won 1-0 at Northampton in a meeting between the other two promoted sides.

Exeter were two goals up inside four minutes as they eventually ran out 3-0 winners away at Wycombe, Bolton won comprehensively 3-0 at home to Lincoln, while Cambridge were 2-0 winners against Oxford.

Shrewsbury defeated Cheltenham 1-0 at the New Meadow as Bristol Rovers‘ visit to Portsmouth and Carlisle‘s game at home to Fleetwood finished 1-1.

Sky Bet League Two

Wrexham‘s long-awaited return to the EFL ended in defeat as Milton Keynes Dons ran out 5-3 winners in the League Two opener at the Racecourse Ground.

The hosts’ promotion euphoria was shattered as Dons struck twice inside the first 10 minutes, as first Eoghan O’Connell put through his own net before Mohamed Eisa doubled the visitors’ lead.

Jonathan Leko added two more after the break to make it 4-1, Jordan Davis hit back for Wrexham before Daniel Harvey and Anthony Forde exchanged goals in added time.

Ten-player Notts County were also given a rude awakening following promotion from the National League, two goals from Omari Patrick and one each for Joe Kizzi, Harry Beautyman and Harry Smith sending them to a 5-1 defeat away at Sutton after County goalkeeper Aidan Stone was sent off on 15 minutes.

Forest Green lost their first game back in League Two following relegation, goals from Conor McAleny and Matt Smith sending them to a 2-0 defeat at home to Salford in Dave Horseman’s first game in charge.

Barrow were 2-1 winners away at Tranmere, Accrington swept to a 3-0 win against Newport and Jack Muldoon’s second-half penalty earned Harrogate a 1-0 win in their Yorkshire derby against Doncaster.

Gillingham won 1-0 away to Stockport, Morecambe beat Walsall 2-1 at home and Grimsby fought out a goalless draw against Wimbledon, while Crawley beat Mark Hughes’ Bradford 1-0 and Crewe drew 2-2 with Mansfield.

Colchester‘s game at home to Swindon was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.