sports📡 The GuardianBy Emillia HawkinsAug 16, 2026👁 2 views

Community Shield buildup, Championship and club friendly updates – matchday live

2m ago04.22 EDT

Jamal Lowe converted a second-half penalty as Sheffield Wednesday made a winning start in League One following relegation with a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient. The Owls, under new ownership since succumbing to the earliest relegation in English Football League history in February, went ahead through Callum Slattery’s debut goal before Joseph Olowu levelled before the break. But Lowe picked himself up after being fouled in the area by James Morris to fire home from the spot in the 66th minute.

Former Premier League champions Leicester were denied victory at Notts County in their first match since relegation as they were held 1-1. Conor Grant’s late strike cancelled out Jayden Joseph’s second-half opener for Leicester and salvaged a deserved point for the home side.

Ciaron Brown’s stoppage-time equaliser rescued another relegated side, Oxford, earning them a 2-2 draw at newly-promoted MK Dons. Charlie Goode and Aaron Collins gave the Dons a 2-1 half-time lead after Mark Harris had fired the U’s in front before Brown turned home a cross in the fifth minute of added time.

Substitute Gideon Kodua scrambled a stoppage-time winner to seal Luton a 4-3 win at Reading, for whom Jack Marriott scored a first-half hat-trick. Huddersfield’s summer signing Derensili Sanches Fernandes struck twice as they beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 at home despite the first-half dismissal of Bali Mumba.

Victor Adeboyejo fired a second-half winner as Bromley won 1-0 at Barnsley for their first-ever win in the third tier following promotion.

Cambridge United held off a fightback to beat Wigan 3-2 on the U’s return to League One.

Goals from Kell Watts, Louis Appere and Isaac Heath put the hosts in control but Wigan made a game of it in the last 20 minutes when Sonny Perkins and Akeel Higgins set up a nervy finish.

Blackpool and Wycombe shared the points in an opening day 1-1 draw.

The visitors led for long periods at Bloomfield Road, following an early opener from Fred Onyedinma. This was cancelled out by substitute Finley Munroe, who made an instant impact following his loan move from Middlesbrough last week.

Bradford made a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Peterborough, who finished with 10 men after David Okagbue’s red card.

Second-half goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Nick Powell were enough for last season’s play-off semi-finalists to secure three points.

Stockport eased to a sparkling 3-1 win at Plymouth as Jack Diamond scored their opener, helped set up a second for Kyle Wootton and a third for Ryan Glover before Xavier Amaechi gave Argyle a late consolation.

Mansfield made a winning start with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Doncaster.

Rhys Oates swept home the opener but Rovers levelled four minutes after the break when through Jack Senior before Mansfield deservedly won it in the 74th minute with a free-kick from Louis Reed.

Olly Sanderson bundled home in stoppage time to snatch Stevenage a point in a 1-1 draw at Burton. The former Fulham youngster came off the bench to cancel out Jack Armer’s second-half strike for the Brewers.