Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy on his sides 2-1 loss to former Premier League outfit, Reading:
“If we play like that for the rest of the season I will be pleased and we will be fine. We looked comfortable and lost out to an outstanding strike, but this is a tough place to come to. I was pleased with our performance and it was no surprise that Jay Tabb should grab a goal on his return to Reading. Things like that do seem to happen. I am not unhappy with that as an opening game because it was a difficult one to start with.”
Recently appointed Reading boss, Nigel Adkins, said:
“We have got three points from a challenging fixture and I am delighted we got off to a winning star, but we had to show a lot of resolve at the end. Our previous captain Jobi McAnuff was on the bench as an impact player today so Sean Morrison got the armband. We won, so he will stay in the side and keep the captain’s job, but Jobi has done magnificently for me and will continue to do so.”
On his 2-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday, Harry Redknapp told the QPR club website:
“I thought we showed fantastic attitude and commitment to come from a goal down to get in front as we did. They had chances and look a decent team. Dave’s put a good team together this year. But it was a great performance from us – we were first class.”
Wednesday boss, Dave Jones said: “It is fine lines and you want the big decisions to be the right ones. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way today and it is really disappointing. It could have gone either way and we certainly deserved something from the game. We’ve switched off for a crucial spell of the game and you can’t do that.”
Nottingham Forest manager, Billy Davies managed to beat Huddersfield 1-0, he said:
“There is work to do, we still need to work on our fitness, but the most important thing is that we picked up three points. Some of the players still need another week of training, we have partnerships to work on and fitness to work on. That will take a few weeks. Our new signings also still need to get to know each other and that will take many games. We need to find a balance and a consistency. It takes time to develop a team and build a club.”
Mark Robins, manager of now 21st place Huddeserfield:
“We were organised, we were not bad. It was the first game of the season and we have not come away with anything, but there were things for us to be pleased with. We were okay, there is a lot for us to work with. We were not quite there, but there are positives. We frustrated a really good Forest side. Not many sides will come here and get much. The way they play is fluid and they will be a real force when they get into their stride in this division.”
Yeovil Town won their first ever match in the second tier of English football and happy manager Gary Johnson said:
“We are used to people telling us we are going to get relegated and with our budget we really should be, but we use it as a strength. Anything we do is a bonus. But we have a group of lads who know how to put in a shift and work for each other. They will all improve as they are a young lot. I think we deserved that win. I thought we played the best side in the first half without having any real chances.”
Defeated Millwall Manager Steve Lomas:
“The defeat is very hard to take but we’ve only got ourselves to blame. We had five decent chances and you have to take them. I can’t fault the lads for their competitiveness and will-to-win, but you have to show that little bit of know-how. Anybody can go and smash into tackles, but it’s about wanting to get on the ball, having the hunger and desire to show what you can do.”
Middlesborough were beaten 2-1 at home at the hands of Leicester City. Manager, Tony Mowbray said:
“We played really well in the first half. We had a good shape, passed the ball around well, created chances and made good decisions in key areas. But Leicester are a good side. They came back at us in the second half; we stopped doing the basics well and let them back into the game. The bottom line is you have to take your chances. We said it so many times last season that you have to close out games when you are are on top.”
Winning manager Nigel Pearson:
“In the first half we didn’t work hard enough, we didn’t make enough positive decisions and we let Middlesbrough shape the game. But in the second half we made a few more positive decisions, worked harder and got our reward. We scored two very good goals, could have had a few more and possibly should have had a penalty. We were well worth the win, although it looked a bit precarious at half-time.”
New Leeds United manager, Brian McDermott on his sides 2-1 win over Brighton:
“Both sides could have won no doubt but in the Championship if you try and win and keep going, you get the breaks. I think we deserved a break and we got one. We could have had a penalty and didn’t, their goal was offside and then we scored. Their goal which was a yard offside, but then we got a goal with the last kick of the game and you take that on the first day of the season.”
A disappointed Brighton head Coach, Oscar Garcia:
“Leeds are a physical team and more so when they play at home so we knew it would be tough. We had our chances and did not take them, so we got this result. Tomorrow the players will know what I think of the performance. I am only happy when we play 100%. Everybody said their second goal was handball, but to be a referee is very difficult and I can understand if he did not see it. But it is more disappointing when we had a chance to score five minutes before.”
Newly promoted Doncaster rovers lost to 2 late goals from Blackpool’s Gary McKenzie and Tom Ince. Manager Paul Dickov said:
“I’m obviously disappointed with the result – and the manner of it. We started a little bit nervy. I don’t know whether it was because it was our first game back in the Championship because once we settled down we played some good stuff. The Championship is an unforgiving division and you can’t really afford to concede goals like that.”
A pleased Paul Ince said:
“It was a hard game but I thought we were worthy winners in the end and I don’t think the final score flatters us at all. Once we settled into our stride, we played quite well despite missing numerous chances. It put them back in the game when they equalised but my boys have got a great camaraderie about them and they never give up.”
Two goals from Lewis Grabban secured a win for newly promoted Bournemouth over Charlton. Bournemouth boss, Eddie Howe said:
“Lewis maybe didn’t grab the headlines last year but he was a key part of the team. He has always performed well even when he perhaps didn’t score the goals. I am happy with Brett [Pitman], Lewis and Wes [Thomas] but really that is all we have for recognised strikers and that is not enough. We are looking but won’t be rushed and panic while these boys are fit. They deserve their chance and they will get it.”
While Charlton manager, Chris Powell commented:
“I have not seen the decision again, but from first reactions it looks like Bradley Pritchard’s challenge was a dangerous tackle so there are no complaints. Sadly he’ll have to serve the ban. It was a superb equalising goal from Yann but we were beaten by a magic strike on the day and are disappointed to lose. Yann is a key player for us, he’s a top centre forward and it’s a marvellous way for him to start the season.”
Gianfranco Zola’s Watford defeated Birmingham 1-0 and Birmingham City boss, Lee Clark said:
‘I’ve told the players that there is no need to change anything. On another day we would have got at least a draw. We didn’t deserve to lose against a terrific team who will be there again at the end of the season because of the pace they play at. I believe we have hit the ground running and been unfortunate in terms of the result. We just didn’t get that little bit of luck.”
Watford manager, Zola said:
“I am pleased with the win. It was a tough test to start the season. This is why I am pleased with result and the performance. In first half we were excellent for long spells. Perhaps we should have tried to have taken more chances and scored more than one goal. Birmingham came back stronger in the second half. We dropped a little bit physically and we allowed them to cause us a lot of problems.”
Wigan got the best result of the day with a 4-0 win over Barnsley. Barnsley manager, David Flitcroft said:
“For me, there wasn’t much in it in the first half. They scored in our best spell. After Dale got sent off I was hurting for the players because I don’t think they deserved it. You give the referee an easy decision. I’ve got to see it again, I don’t think it was really reckless. We’ve come up against an excellent team. We’ve lost three points but there’s another 135 to go. It’s a new season. A new start. Our challenge is the Championship and we deserve to be in it.”
New Wigan Athletic boss, Owen Coyle said:
“From start to finish it was a fantastic performance from a dynamic team against a Barnsley side who, towards the end of last season, showed real resilience in taking on all before them to stay in the Championship. But we stood toe-to-toe with them, showed real quality and to be honest could have scored more than four goals, so as manager I couldn’t have asked for much more than what the players gave today. At half-time there was still much to do, and even when Grant Holt scored the second goal we couldn’t drop our standards. The Championship can punish you very quickly but our quality shone through and on another day we could have scored six or seven goals.”
2 first half goals from either side gave Burnley and Bolton both a point and Burnley manager, Sean Dyche said:
“I was pleased with our performance, I thought it was a continuation of our good form in pre-season. There was good energy to it, a nice solid look to it but also some real quality at times. We nearly scored again and that can happen at times. We’re playing against a big club in terms of financial sense in this division and they will be well-fancied.”
Bolton manager Dougie Freedman said:
“I thought it was a good game. We did well to come back from a little setback which is going to happen so that was pleasing from a coach’s point of view. I thought it was a fair result. We didn’t really do enough to win it but that’s how it goes. It was a local derby and you need to show grit and determination. I think we lost the opening game last season but that was never going to happen with this new group.”
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