The Championship came back with a bang, especially at Turf Moor where Burnley came from two goals down to draw with Watford. Defensive duo Ben Mee (pictured above) and Kieran Trippier were both in the Clarets’ starting line-up, but could do nothing to prevent the visitors going in front and were relieved to eventually claim a point.
Ryan McGivern only joined Crystal Palace on an emergency loan deal earlier in the week, yet he appeared for the Eagles during their opening day defeat to newly promoted Peterborough. The Northern Irish international played 79 minutes for Palace as they surrendered a 1-0 lead and lost 2-1.
There was better luck for Michael Johnson’s Leicester who beat local rivals Coventry 1-0. Former Blue Darius Vassell was one of two first half dismissals, as both sides finished the opening 45 minutes with just ten men, before promotion favourites Leicester claimed all three points, even without the missing Johnson.
North of the border, David Gonzalez was unlucky to be on the losing side as Aberdeen were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Celtic, while Netherlands based Abdi Ibrahim watched on from the bench as NEC fought back from two goals down in the final six minutes to grab a point on the opening day of the Eredivisie campaign.
For City youngsters Mohammed Abu and Omar Elabdellaoui, it’s not the start of the season, but rather the halfway stage. Playing in Norway for Premier League side Stromsgodset, the City duo currently sit in fifth with games in hand over their rivals.
Without the missing Elabdellaoui, Abu and his side missed the chance to move into the Europa League spots with a goalless draw against high-flying Brann.
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