The new English Football League season kicked off with a bang last weekend.
And as expected the opening round of fixtures provided plenty of drama and excitement across all three divisions. It all started with Friday night's curtain-raiser as Burnley sealed a slender win at Huddersfield in Vincent Kompany's first match in charge.
And the maiden weekend concludes on Monday night when Watford take on Sheffield United in the Championship - the Hornets' first game back after relegation.
Here, Mirror Football looks at the winners and losers to emerge from the 35 games played so far on matchday one.
WINNERS
Burnley
There was plenty of intrigue surrounding the Clarets as they began life back in the Championship after a six-year absence.
Not only did they have a new man in the dugout in Vincent Kompany, they also had a new-look side after a clutch of long-serving players departed over the summer.
But even with five debutants in the starting XI and another two who were introduced from the bench, Kompany's side looked a cut above their hosts Huddersfield. The margin of victory may have been slender but they were well worth their 1-0 win and the fact that the Terriers failed to register a shot on target and enjoyed just 30 per cent of the ball says plenty about how good a job Burnley did on the opening night.
Forest Green
The Nailers' first-ever game in the third tier of English football saw them seal a 2-1 win away at fellow promoted outfit Bristol Rovers.
Regan Hendry's late goal swung the game in the favour of the visitors who have had to contend with some big losses not only player-wise but after previous boss Rob Edwards was poached by Watford. Ian Burchnall's reign got off to the perfect start. And the winner from Hendry was a special strike as Rovers denied Joey Barton's men an opening day point and secured all three for themselves.
What was the highlight of the first weekend? Let us know in the comments
Danny Johnson
The Walsall forward was the only man to register a hat-trick on the EFL's opening weekend.
His treble was achieved in 46 minutes, either side of the interval to give the Saddlers a memorable first day 4-0 win at home to Hartlepool.
It was Walsall's first game since a summer takeover by Trivela Group LLC and their declaration to "shout a bit louder and make Wolves, West Brom and Aston Villa listen to us a little bit more than we have had to listen to them."
Johnson's boss Michael Flynn said of Johnson: "He does what good strikers do. He was clinical and his finishing was superb."
AFC Wimbledon
Finally Wimbledon fans can celebrate a league victory. Saturday saw them pick up three points for the first time since December 2021.
The scarcely-believable run resulted in them being relegated last term but they began life back in League Two with a much-needed 2-0 win over fellow relegated side Gillingham.
Goals in either half sealed the victory as Johnnie Jackson's reign started in style and finally consigned that awful 27-game winless run to the past.
LOSERS
Norwich City
Norwich suffered a second relegation in three seasons last term and the hangover is evidently still taking its toll.
The Canaries ended last season with six defeats in their final seven Premier League games and they failed to shake off that losing knack at Cardiff on Saturday.
Romaine Sawyers scored the only goal of the game to ensure an unhappy start for his old boss Dean Smith.
For the new-look Bluebirds it represented a fine start to the campaign but Norwich now switch attentions to their first home game of the season, next week when Wigan come to town. As the clear favourites for promotion, Smith's men cannot afford to continue their sloppy start.
Lee Tomlin
Much-travelled forward Tomlin signed terms with League Two side Doncaster last week. But he belied his years of experience with a comical red card in Rovers' goalless draw away at Yorkshire rivals Bradford on Saturday.
First he picked up a cheap booking by pushing the ball away after conceding a free-kick inside his own half. Then he kicked the ball away within seconds, much to the chagrin of Bradford players and fans.
Despite being given a warning by the referee Bobby Madden, Tomlin then theatrically fell over when a Bradford player made the slightest of brushes past him.
Madden had no sympathy and dished out a second yellow to leave Tomlin red-carded and red-faced.
