Favourites fail to oblige on opening afternoon

It was a bad start for the ante-post Sky Bet Football League favourites after none of the three market leaders were able to make a winning start to the campaign.

Middlesbrough, heavily backed into favouritism in the summer following a sustained spending spree, failed to fire in a 1-0 loss at Wolves.

Garry Monk started three of his new forwards – Britt Assombalonga, Martin Braithwaite and Ashley Fletcher at Molineux – but it was Wolves debutant Leo Bonatini who settled the contest.

Hull came from behind to draw 1-1 with Aston Villa at Villa Park.

There was a subdued start from the three beaten Championship playoff outfits after Fulham were pegged back late on by Norwich in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

Sheffield Wednesday and Reading lost at Preston and QPR respectively.

League One favourites Blackburn have been pushed out to 5-1 after a 2-1 defeat at Southend. Rovers were made to pay for a poor first-half showing at Roots Hall, while Wigan were cut to 7-1 thanks to a 1-0 triumph at MK Dons.

League Two market leaders Mansfield twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Crewe and Luton’s stunning 8-2 demolition of Yeovil saw them cut to 5-1 joint-favourites alongside the Stags.

New Hatters signing James Collins marked his debut with a hat-trick and there was also a three-goal haul for Coventry’s Jodi Jones in their 3-0 victory over Notts County at the Ricoh.