Scott Parker saw his Burnley side record another statement victory, beating Cardiff 5-0 in his first home game in charge since replacing Vincent Kompany as manager. The Clarets built on their impressive opening day 4-1 win at Luton with an assertive performance at Turf Moor, which started with Ethan Horvath’s mishap giving Burnley an early lead.
Horvath’s miscontrol of a back pass was followed by a first-half strike from Luca Koleosho, with Josh Brownhill, Zeki Amdouni and Johann Berg Gudmundsson netting after the break as Burnley look to bounce back from last season’s relegation.
Preston’s hunt for a new manager has taken on added urgency after their interim manager, Mike Marsh, left the club following their seventh successive league defeat – a 3-0 loss at Swansea. Marsh stepped in on a temporary basis on Monday after the sacking of Ryan Lowe, who was dismissed following their 2-0 opening-day loss to Sheffield United last Friday. The 55-year-old oversaw their Carabao Cup first-round win over Sunderland on Tuesday, but goals from Matt Grimes, Azeem Abdulai and Zan Vipotnik ended hope of fresh momentum.
A statement from club director Peter Ridsdale was posted on the club’s official website less than two hours after the full-time whistle, reading: “Following today’s defeat in South Wales, Mike has thanked the club for the opportunity to take interim charge, but he does not wish to apply for the job on a permanent basis or take the club forward. Mike will therefore leave the club with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future.
“We will now concentrate all our time and energy on appointing a new manager/head coach, and hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the coming days.” Preston captain Ben Whiteman stepped in to conduct the post-match press conference at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Quick GuideLeague One roundup: Birmingham battle back for win
Show
Birmingham came from behind to claim the first success of their League one campaign with a 3-2 victory at Wycombe. An own goal from Krystian Bielik gave the hosts the lead but the Blues clicked into gear with Alfie May, Luke Harris and Willum Þór Willumsson finding the net. Sam Vokes pulled one back for Wycombe in the 90th minute but time had run out on their comeback.
Huddersfield, who were also relegated from the Championship last season, continued their flawless start to 2024-25 with a 2-1 victory over Stevenage.
A dominant performance was rewarded with goals by Josh Koroma and Ben Wiles with Harvey White scoring a consolation from the penalty spot deep into added time. The win places Huddersfield second in the table as one of four sides with 100% after two rounds of the season.
Leaders Stockport thrashed Blackpool 3-0 at Bloomfield Road but their first goal did not arrive until the 67th minute when Louie Barry found the net. Jayden Fevrier and Isaac Olaofe weighed in with additional strikes to leave the Tangerines searching for their first win of the season.
Ade Adeyemo pounced in the 86th minute to secure Crawley a 1-0 win at Cambridge that keeps them among the early pacesetters. Charlton left it late for the second week in succession with Luke Berry's stoppage-time goal claiming a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient.
Shrewsbury are at the foot of the table having suffered the biggest defeat of the day as Kwame Poku and Joel Randall fired braces to clinch Peterborough a 4-1 win at New Meadow. PA Media
QPR fought back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United. Gustavo Hamer and Kieffer Moore put the home side 2-0 up inside 13 minutes as the Blades looked to make it three straight wins in all competitions to start the new season. But Rangers hit back with second-half goals from Jimmy Dunne and Lyndon Dykes, despite having substitute Jack Colback sent off when trailing 2-1 with seven minutes left.
Leeds’ winless start to the new season continued with a 0-0 draw against West Brom at the Hawthorns, but there were plenty of goals at Ashton Gate where substitute Scott Twine volleyed an 88th-minute winner as Bristol City edged out Millwall 4-3.
The hosts took the lead inside three minutes when Sinclair Armstrong got behind the Millwall defence on the right and his cross found Anis Mehmeti who netted with a right-footed volley. It was 2-0 in the 12th minute, the powerful Armstrong rising unmarked to net with a downward header. Millwall struck back after 51 minutes, Romain Esse burying a low right-footed shot past Max O’Leary. Three minutes later the Lions were level as Tom Bradshaw sent O’Leary the wrong way from the penalty spot after George Tanner had blocked a Duncan Watmore header with a hand.
Watmore then put Millwall ahead in the 64th minute with a quality strike, superbly steering a high right-footed volley beyond O’Leary’s dive from 12 yards. But back came City, substitute Fally Mayulu exchanging passes with Bird before sending a low drive just inside the far post with 12 minutes remaining.
Twine’s winner came the day after he completed a permanent move from Burnley, having been on loan at Ashton Gate last season. The midfielder got on the end of a Joe Williams cross from the right to score from the edge of the six-yard box. It was enough to settle a see-saw contest in which both teams attacked with gusto, but showed worrying signs of frailty at the back.
Quick GuideLeague Two roundup: Walsall run riot
Show
League Two leaders Walsall ran riot in a 4-0 victory at Swindon with Josh Gordon and Jamille Matt on target in the first half before Taylor Allen and Albert Adomah struck after the interval.
Bromley made light work of AFC Wimbledon thanks to strikes from Michael Cheek and Corey Whitely that propelled them to a 2-0 success at Hayes Lane. George Lapslie fired Gillingham to a 1-0 triumph at Morecambe to ensure the Gills also retain their winning start to the campaign.
The outlook is already looking bleak for pointless Crewe after they were crushed 5-0 at Gresty Road by Chesterfield. James Berry fired the first of his two goals in the first minute and only 11 minutes later the visitors led 3-0.
Carlisle secured their maiden win since being relegated from League One with the on-loan Bournemouth forward Daniel Adu-Adjei pouncing in the 35th minute to send Barrow spinning to a 1-0 loss. Jordan Davies notched an added-time winner as Grimsby dispatched Cheltenham 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Blundell Park. PA Media
Summer signing Yuki Ohashi came off the bench to grab a dramatic late equaliser as Blackburn snatched a battling 2-2 draw at Norwich. The Japanese striker headed home in the 87th minute to rescue a point after his side had squandered a half-time lead, with Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz scoring twice in eight second-half minutes to turn the game on its head. Ryan Hedges had produced an assured finish to open the scoring on 20 minutes but Norwich were the better side for long periods and made it show after the break, only for Rovers to have the final say.
Watford continued their winning start to the season with a convincing 3-0 victory at home to Stoke. Both sides had enjoyed opening-day wins in the league plus Carabao Cup successes against lower-league opposition in midweek. However, two goals in two minutes early in the second half from Edo Kayembe and Ryan Andrews set up a straightforward victory for Tom Cleverley’s hosts, with Kayembe adding another later on.
Wayne Rooney secured his first Championship point as Plymouth manager as the Devon side drew 1-1 with Hull at Home Park. Visiting captain Lewis Coyle scored a superb 63rd-minute leveller after on-loan Dutch Under-21 international Ibrahim Cissoko fired Argyle ahead in the 52nd minute.
Derby goalkeeper Josh Vickers produced a superb performance as his team dug deep to beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Pride Park. Vickers made a string of outstanding saves after Kayden Jackson had punished a Boro mistake to give Derby a first-half lead. Boro dominated possession but a combination of Vickers and poor finishing left them empty-handed. For Vickers it was a statement display after Derby signed Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström from Djurgarden on Friday.
Luton clung on for a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth despite being forced to play for an hour with 10 men after goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski was sent off following a moment of madness. Kaminski made a rash excursion from his goal on the half hour and collided in turn with Callum Lang and Connor Ogilvie to earn a deserved red having already been booked for time wasting. But in their first Championship home game in 12 years, Pompey failed to cash in on their advantage and Luton were ultimately comfortable in holding out for a morale-boosting point after their opening-day drubbing by Burnley.