The opening weekend of the new English Football League campaign produced plenty of talking points, from promoted sides making winning starts to a contentious handball incident that could reignite the debate over VAR in the Championship.
Bolton Wanderers marked their return to the Championship with victory, giving them an early boost as they look to establish themselves against clubs with considerably larger budgets. The result was seen as an encouraging sign for manager Steven Schumacher, who discussed the challenge of competing with the division's bigger spenders during an appearance on the BBC's EFL podcast.
Elsewhere, Middlesbrough fans were given reason for optimism after forward Will Lankshear made an immediate impact, a performance described on the podcast as a "dream start" that has lifted the club going into the new season.
Southampton's opening fixture came against a backdrop of unwanted attention following the so-called "Spygate" controversy that had dominated headlines before the season began. The Saints were unable to put the distraction behind them on the pitch, losing their first match of the campaign away at Watford. Pundits on the podcast noted that Southampton may have to get used to being viewed as pantomime villains by rival supporters in the wake of the affair.
A major flashpoint from the weekend came in the clash between West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City, where a clear handball inside the penalty area went unpunished and proved decisive in helping West Brom secure victory. The incident has reignited discussion over whether the Championship should introduce VAR, a topic covered in depth on the EFL podcast, with hosts Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff debating the merits and drawbacks of bringing video technology into the second tier.
At the other end of the drama scale, Luton Town produced one of the standout results of the weekend by fighting back from 3-1 down to beat Reading in their season opener. The remarkable turnaround came under new manager Jack Wilshere, who is entering his first full pre-season in charge of a senior side. Wilshere appeared as a guest on the podcast to reflect on the comeback and his early experiences as a first-team manager, offering insight into how he approached his maiden pre-season preparing Luton for the campaign ahead.
The episode also touched on lighter moments from the weekend's action, including a segment dedicated to standout highs and lows across the division, featuring a difficult moment for one EFL veteran and a notable late goal celebration involving Welsh players.
With the season only one round old, the mixture of promoted-team resilience, individual breakout performances, refereeing controversy and dramatic comebacks has already set the tone for what promises to be an unpredictable Championship campaign. Clubs across the division will now shift focus to their second fixtures, with questions over officiating technology and competitive balance between promoted and established sides likely to remain prominent talking points as the season progresses.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport (72+ EFL Podcast).