League One Round-Up: Millwall top after easing past Oldham, Peterborough edge five-goal thriller at Rochdale

Millwall got off to the perfect start in League One as Neil Harris’ men look to forget last season’s play-off final defeat at Wembley, as they comfortably dispatched of Oldham Athletic 3-0 at The Den.

Lee Gregory put the Lions ahead after just 13 minutes from the penalty spot, which was followed up by an Aiden O’Brien tap-in to double the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time. Byron Webster soon netted after the break to wrap up the three points.

Gregory fired the Lions in front against Oldham on Saturday afternoon – Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

Peterborough United debutant Gwion Edwards gave Posh an opening day victory away to Rochdale, as they ran out 3-2 winners. Dale were pegged back twice after taking the lead through Andy Cannon and Ian Henderson, with Marcus Maddison and Chris Forrester ensuring the two sides were level at the break. But in the 89th minute, Edwards pounced on a catastrophic mistake by keeper Josh Lillis after the number one spilled the ball.

AFC Wimbledon lost their first-ever game in the third-tier of English football, going down 3-1 at Walsall. Erhun Oztumer put the Saddlers ahead with a wonderfully taken free-kick to prove why he is nicknamed the ‘Turkish Messi’, before a brace from veteran striker Simeon Jackson on his debut. Lyle Taylor tucked away a penalty in the final minute, but it was a mere consolation.

Scunthorpe United’s 3-1 win over newly-promoted Bristol Rovers proved why they are one of the frontrunners for promotion this campaign. But, it was the Pirates who took the lead when last season’s top scorer Matty Taylor struck from close-range. Yet, second-half strikes from Kevin Van Veen, Josh Morris and Kyle Wooton wrapped up the result.

Bury reaped further misery on Charlton Athletic as they beat the Addicks 2-0, thanks to two strikes in the final 20 minutes. The first was a Neil Danns penalty and the other from a Kelvin Etuhu effort in the closing moments, as the hosts won for the first time on the opening day in eight years.

Bolton Wanderers, who are hoping to bounce back up to the Championship at the first attempt, got off to a winning start thanks to Jay Spearing’s wonder strike as they beat Sheffield United 1-0. The midfielder struck a 20-yard volley with the outside of his right-boot, as the Trotters dominated their opening league fixture.

Gillingham came from a goal down to win 3-1 at Southend United. Home manager Phil Brown, who was serving his touchline ban, saw his side take the lead inside the first 25 minutes as Stephen McLaughlin shot from distance, but goals from debutant Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Max Ehmer and Emmanuel Osadebe earned the Gills a hard-fought victory.

Swindon Town narrowly defeated fellow promotion candidates Coventry City 1-0, as Yaser Kasim found the bottom left-corner four minutes from time as the Robins got off to a positive start, after both sides had missed earlier chances.

Milton Keynes Dons dominated Shrewsbury Town in their first game back in the third-tier, after last season’s relegation, but it took until the 73rd minute for Karl Robinson’s side to make the breakthrough. Daniel Powell’s thunderous effort found its way past Jayson Leutwiler in the hosts’ net.

MK Dons’ match winner: Powell (Bottom) – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Oxford United were denied an opening day win at home to Chesterfield. Ched Evans scored the Spireties’ equaliser after Wes Thomas had put the hosts 1-0 up on his debut, as he looks to fill the void left by Kemar Roofe in the summer.

Northampton Town hoped to continue where they left off last season against Fleetwood Town on the opening day of the League One term, and the Cobblers took the lead just nine minutes into the match as Chris Neal converted the ball into his own net from Alex Revell’s whipped cross. But, Victor Nirennold earned the Cod Army a point with a well-taken finish.

And finally, Bradford City and Port Vale drew 0-0 as both sides’ new managers failed to get off to a winning start.

Player of the Weekend: Simeon Jackson (Walsall)
Team of the Weekend: Peterborough United
Goal of the Weekend: Jay Spearing (BOLTON WANDERERS vs Sheffield United)