Ipswich 2-1 Fulham
Daryl Murphy scored one and made one as Ipswich got their season off to a flyer.
The Irish striker netted a powerful opener after 32 minutes before his cross was only cleared to substitute David McGoldrick, who doubled the hosts’ advantage.
Tim Hoogland set up a nervy finish when his shot was deflected in with four minutes remaining, but Ipswich controlled much of the match and deserved the three points.
Fielding eight debutants, including five in their back line, nervy Fulham conceded a corner after 17 seconds as Ipswich created the early chances through Christophe Berra’s powerful header and Luke Hyam shooting just wide.
After 11 minutes, Fulham fashioned a decent opening after Scott Parker’s exquisite ball played in the marauding Hoogland.
The right-back fed Chris David but he screwed his shot wide after taking up a good position.
Ipswich remained the most likely to open the scoring however, Cole Skuse volleying just over with 17 minutes on the clock. Although Fulham were enjoying the majority of possession, Ipswich continued to create half chances with Skuse again finding space, if not the target, with another dipping volley.
And it was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Hyam’s incisive through ball released Murphy, who outpaced Shaun Hutchinson before making no mistake with a powerful finish.
Fulham were deflated by the setback but they looked for a quick recovery after the interval and the impressive Konstantinos Stafylidis fizzed a shot just over.
Ipswich were looking strong at the back and doubled their advantage at the other end on 62 minutes.
Murphy’s low cross was half cleared, and fell nicely for McGoldrick to open his account for the season.
McGoldrick called Joronen into action from the corner of the penalty area before Fulham pulled a goal back out of nothing.
Hoogland cut inside Tyrone Mings and his weak shot took a wicked deflection past Gerken.
The lifeline galvanised Fulham, but Town held on to claim all three points.
Brighton 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Giles Coke’s stunning first-half strike gave Sheffield Wednesday a winning start.
His 25-yard shot ensured a victory which was made even tougher for the home side, who were forced to play the final 40 minutes with 10 men after the sending off of midfielder Andrew Crofts. Coke struck to give Wednesday the lead against the run of play four minutes before the interval.
Brighton paid the penalty for not closing down Coke tightly enough as he rifled home a left-foot shot into a top corner from 25 yards.
The Seagulls were reduced to 10 men when Crofts was sent to the dressing room after 50 minutes.
The Welshman was shown a straight red from referee James Linington for a high tackle on defender Sam Hutchinson.
Brentonford 1-1 Charlton
Brentford’s return to the second tier after 21 years ended with a deserved point.
Substitute Tommy Smith marked his debut with a deflected near post finish with five minutes to go, after Igor Ventokele had given the visitors the lead just after the break.Ventokele struck with a close range header from Johnnie Jackson’s right wing corner.
Brentford were guilty of poor finishing, with Jonathan Douglas and skipper Tony Craig both wasting gilt-edged chances Craig volleyed over from close range when unmarked. Callum Harriot hit the bar midway through the second half after a goalkeeping howler from Brentford’s keeper David Button, before Alan Judge evened the woodwork count out at the other end with a neat free-kick.
Smith levelled when he found space in the eight yard box to smash home, with help from Addicks defender Tal Ben Haim.
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