As always the second tier of English football always seems to throw up a frenzied opening to the season.
With the newly promoted and newly relegated teams throwing a tidal wave of change into the mix it’s up to the steady “championship” clubs to keep a tradition going. We all know and love the Championship for that very reason, the unreliability, the inconsistency, the chance of snatching that perfectly poised golden egg, The Premier League.
The land of VAR, Superstars and Cash Monies.
Yes, the Championship allows dreams to live and breathe amongst its mid-table squads and the hope that promotion lies just a “decent run” away. It all begun this Friday with Blackburn Rovers taking a sizeable chunk out of the Derby County promotion parade.
Welcome back to The Rams, the hard nosed clamour for safety appears to already have begun for the Derbyshire club.
This Saturday saw a full table of fixtures with the apparent delicate Queens Park Rangers throwing away a 1-0 lead to allow a good spirited, strong looking West Brom to derail any early hopes for the hoops. A delightful and poachers hat trick from the talented Josh Maja was more than enough for the Baggies to take away all 3 points from Shepherds Bush in a 3-1 victory.
An impressive opening away victory for Watford against the usually solid Millwall saw Chakvetadze score the goal of the game. Leaving where he left off for Georgia in this years Euros a scorcher of a free kick nestled firmly into the back of the Millwall net, despite a flailing lunge from Lukas Jensen.
The Hornets will Hope to build on this early momentum as many fans feeling pessimistic for the season following a slow transfer window this summer.
In other games a succint 3-3 draw between new boys Portsmouth and title hopefuls Leeds United would have left even the neutral of neutrals gasping for breathe, a game to typify what the second tier is all about. A late penalty from the impressive Callum Lang saw his effort chalked off with an even later reply from the talented Brendan Aaronsen. The last mentioned will be hoping that the Yorkshire side can see off most teams that arrive at Elland Road in the quest for points this season.
Elsewhere a surprising and resounding opening day victory for Oxford United conquering Norfolks Norwich City with Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Stoke all securing 3 points in what promises to be probably one of the most hard to call seasons for many-a-year.
Roll up your sleeves, it’s about to get gritty.
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