Wigan Athletic begin their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a goalless draw against Preston North End on Saturday afternoon.
Latics, who returned to the second tier for the first time since 2020, came close through efforts from Will Keane, Jack Whatmough and Callum Lang, though the honours remained even at the DW Stadium despite Preston’s Ched Evans’ 80th-minute red card.
Manager Leam Richardson told Latics TV that Saturday’s Championship season opener against Preston North End was largely as expected as both sides went toe-to-toe in an electric atmosphere at the DW Stadium.
Speaking post-match as his side registered a point on their return to the second tier, Richardson said:
“[The atmosphere and game] was as expected; kicking off in a Championship campaign against, in my opinion, a really strong football club who are going in a really strong direction and will have aspirations of getting in the top six this year.
“It was a challenge for us; we obviously got promoted last year, we have stepped up and the lads who got us promoted last year were in that starting XI today and they stood up to the task well.
“If they have aspirations individually and collectively to continue in the Championship, then we will have to pit our wits against really strong football clubs and certainly today we went toe-to-toe.
Bolton manager Ian Evatt praised his side’s resilience as they stood strong to earn an opening-day point at Ipswich Town.
Wanderers led the Tractor Boys through Aaron Morley’s penalty as they looked to become only the second side to win at Portman Road since last November.
But after conceding a Lee Evans’ equaliser seven minutes before the break, Wanderers then had to produce a superb rear-guard action for spells of the second half to secure a hard-earned 1-1 draw.
“It’s a very good point. I don’t think many teams will come here and get anything,” said Evatt.
Rochdale fell to a 2-1 opening day defeat at home to Crewe Alexandra
The Railwaymen took a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to goals from Dan Agyei and Lachlan Brook, before Devante Rodney pulled one back for Dale in the 69th minute.
Manager Robbie Stockdale said after the game that “It’s very disappointing but seasons aren’t made on the first game. We had seven debutants if you class Ian [Henderson] and Ethan [Ebanks-Landell] as returning debutants, so hopefully people saw that there was maybe enough to kick on this season, but it’s obviously disappointing to lose your first home game.”
Stockport’s return to the Football :eague ended in defeat to Barrow.It was County’s fourth successive opening-day defeat, after the visiting ‘Bluebirds’ had made it a sobering first 45 minutes for much of the five-figure crowd with three well-taken goals that put them well in control of proceedings at the break.
The Hatters struck back shortly after half-time through Antoni Sarcevic, before skipper Paddy Madden added a second – but were unable to fashion an equaliser, and also saw a late penalty award overturned.
The Club is appealing for witnesses for two assaults following the fixture with Barrow. A man has been seriously assaulted on Mercian Way and another through the window of their car whilst driving out of Caroline Street onto Mercian Way.
Salford City earned an opening day victory against Mansfield Town at The Peninsula Stadium, with the goals coming from Callum Hendry and Brandon Thomas-Asante.
New new Head Coach Neil Wood was pleased with the start that his side made, as The Ammies won on the opening day for the first time since 2019.
“It helps that we started the game really well which we’ve probably not done so much in pre-season.
“I thought the first goal was a really good goal, really good finish from Callum, and then the second goal from Brandon was an excellent finish, a nice through ball from Connor, and it put us in a good place in the game so really pleasing, a good start, nice to get three points from the opening game.
