Anton Stach's low free kick from the corner of the area sneaked past Matz Sels at his near post in the eighty-eighth minute, gave Leeds a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, and ruined Oliver Glasner's first game in charge — Forest's fifth manager inside a year. [1][2] Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford kept a clean sheet on debut while Forest fans chanted about his price tag; he celebrated the winner by sprinting toward halfway. [1][3]

Everton won their opener for the first time in five years, beating Crystal Palace 2-0 through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's left-footed strike and Thierno Barry's downward header, with British prime minister Andy Burnham watching from the seats at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Palace twice hit the woodwork before the second half took the game away. [2]

Ipswich supplied the melodrama. Gary O'Neil, in his first competitive match since replacing Kieran McKenna in June, fielded six debutants from a twelve-signing summer, watched Julio Enciso set up Emersonn's tap-in, endured Nilson Angulo's free kick off the crossbar, then took the points when Jack Clarke punished Omar Alderete's wayward pass in the ninetieth. Portman Road has seen two home Premier League wins in twenty-four years. [2][3]

The openers vindicated Friday's note that this season begins with churn rather than hierarchy. [4] Glasner's dawn soured by teatime. O'Neil's era began with three points. Football's oldest lesson held: nobody knows anything in August.

-- CHARLES ASHFORD, London