Weekend Roundup

The Football League season was in its second matchday of the season, and the Premier League got underway. Here's what happened around English football during the weekend just gone.

I'd like to say it's good to be back, but it's bloody well not.

Premier League

The Evil Money League of Doom kicked off its 2009/10 season on Saturday lunchtime, with a late Didier Drogba goal giving Chelsea a 2-1 win at home to Hull City. Petr Cech's nemesis Stephen Hunt had put City in front before Drogba's first goal levelled for the hosts.

A stunning strike from Hugo Rodallega and a neat finish by Jason Koumas gave Wigan Athletic an opening day win over a shocking Aston Villa side, while former Villa skipper Gareth Barry saw fellow debutant Emmanuel Adebayor open the scoring for Manchester City at Blackburn Rovers. Stephen Ireland sealed the win late on.

Darren Bent scored his first league goal for Sunderland in a 1-0 away win over Bolton Wanderers, and Bobby Zamora gave Fulham a win by the same scoreline at Portsmouth. Ryan Shawcross' header and a Stephen Jordan own goal saw Stoke City spoil Burnley's Premier League bow with a 2-0 defeat. A great strike from Marc Noble, who later provided the corner from which Matthew Upson doubled the lead, set up a 2-0 win for West Ham United at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

At Goodison, goals from Denilson, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas (2) and Eduardo put Arsenal 6 (six) nil up over Everton. On a disastrous afternoon, Toffees fans were given something to cheer if any of them stuck around until full time, Louis Saha tucking in a no-consolation goal.

On Sunday, Wayne Rooney scored the winner in Manchester United's 1-0 win over Dirty Small Heath, and goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong either side of a Steven Gerrard penalty gave Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 win at home to Liverpool.

Championship

The big news from the Championship came at Ashton Gate, where a Freddie Sears goal for Crystal Palace was not spotted by referee Rob Shoebridge because it bounced off a metal frame around the bottom of the net. Nicky Maynard scored at the death to give Bristol City a 1-0 win. (Much) more on that from me tomorrow - Neil Warnock is rightly spitting blood.

Rob Kozluk was sent of as Barnsley slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Coventry City, who've started brilliantly. Despite not appearing on the BBC's Championship results page, Newcastle United did play, beating Reading 3-0 with a Shola Ameobi hat-trick.

Blackpool drew with Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers with Preston North End, Ipswich Town with Leicester City, Peterborough United with Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle with Queens Park Rangers.

Elsewhere there were victories for West Bromwich Albion, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.

League One

Relegated Charlton Athletic grabbed their second League One win by beating Hartlepool and Leeds United won away at Wycombe Wanderers, but it wasn't all plain sailing for League One's big boys.

Stranded Southampton were comprehensively beaten by Huddersfield Town, while Norwich City had to settle for a draw at Exeter City. Colchester United top the table thanks to a home win over Yeovil Town, while Oldham Athletic won 2-1 at Leyton Orient. Stockport County suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bristol Rovers.

Tranmere Rovers won 4-2 at home to promoted Gillingham and it sounds like they were in charge all afternoon. There were draws for Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, Millwall and Carlisle United, Swindon Town and MK Dons, and Walsall and Southend United.

League Two

In the bottom tier Notts County and AFC Bournemouth have gotten off to a flyer. The Cherries won 1-0 over Rotherham and County picked up another big win, defeating Macclesfield 4-0 on their own turf. Dagenham & Redbridge are also at 100% after a 5-3 home win over Torquay United. Promoted Burton Albion also hit five against Morecambe.

Accrington Stanley beat Lincoln City (who'll be getting a call from the authorities after six bookings) 1-0, the same scoreline by which Chesterfield beat Northampton Town. Bury won 1-0 at Darlington, Crewe Alexandra won 4-0 at Grimsby Town and ten-man Rochdale scored deep into injury time to defeat Aldershot.

There were draws for Barnet and Shrewsbury Town, Bradford City and Port Vale, and Hereford United and Cheltenham.

Non-League

Luton Town, Altrincham and Oxford United have made unbeaten starts to the Blue Square Premier Season. Town defeated promoted Gateshead with two goals in one first half minute, while Oxford beat ten-man Histon 4-3. Altrincham won away at Hayes & Yeading.

Cambridge United, Crawley Town and Mansfield Town picked up their second wins each of the season, Mansfield inflicting Salisbury's first dropped points of the season. Cambridge's win at Chester City leaves the hosts on -25 points, while Gateshead and Forest Green Rovers are yet to get off the mark.

In the Blue Square North, Corby's win at Stalybridge continues their 100% record. Gloucester and Farsley Celtic played out a 4-3 thriller, Celtic taking home the points to rise to -7. Northwich Victoria's win over Solihull Moors takes them to -3, while Redditch and Gloucester remain on zero.

In the South, Braintree Town and Basingstoke defeated Maidenhead and Chelmsford respectively to take their third win from three games. Worcester City, Welling United and Weston-Super-Mare are propping up the table with three defeats each.