Marquee signing Will Lankshear delivered a second-half double, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner, as Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough kicked off their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. The result inflicted a first defeat in eight and a half months on newly-promoted Lincoln City.
Lincoln, playing their first second-tier match in 65 years, initially took the lead in the 12th minute through Adam Reach. However, former Tottenham forward Lankshear, making his league debut for Boro, equalised just after the hour mark before securing the win.
Elsewhere, fellow newly-promoted side Bolton Wanderers also celebrated an opening weekend victory, beating Preston 2-1. Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals for Bolton, who recorded their first Championship win since March 2019. Sheffield United and Birmingham City, however, played out a goalless draw at Bramall Lane.
Other results saw West Brom secure a 2-1 win at Norwich, Charlton Athletic come from behind to beat Derby 2-1, and QPR defeat Portsmouth 3-1. Swansea City also battled back to stun Stoke 2-1, while Josh Coburn's double helped Millwall to a 2-0 away win over 10-man Bristol City.