Barnsley enjoyed the perfect start to life back in the Championship with a more than comfortable 1-0 win over relegated Premier League outfit Fulham.
It means Barnsley have won their opening game of the season two seasons in a row for the first time since 1978-1979 (in that period they won their first game of the season five years in a row, between 1974-1975 and 1978-1979.
Indeed it is the first time they have even opened the scoring in successive opening day games since 2004-2005 and 2005-2006.
They have won their last two opening day games to nil, last doing so three seasons in a row between 1974-1977.
The Reds defeated the Cottagers for the first time in seven meetings - they had lost five of the previous six including each of the last four.
This is the first time they have met on the opening day since 1983-1984 which was another Oakwell win for Barnsley - 3-0. They have met one other time on the opening day, in 1970-1971 with Fulham winning 1-0.
This result also kept up Barnsley's incredible home record under Daniel Stendel (and in general) they are now unbeaten in all 28 matches at Oakwell under Stendel (all comps) (W18 D10)
In total Barnsley are now unbeaten in their last 31 matches at Oakwell in all competitions (W19 D12), their longest run at home since going 36 matches without defeat at Oakwell between 4th February 1933 and 24th November 1934 (W25 D11). Five of those 31 games have come in the Championship.
The Reds goal came after 13 minutes, their earliest opening day strike since Conor Wilkinson netted after four minutes at Chesterfield in a 3-1 defeat on the first day of 2015-2016.
It is their earliest opening day goal at Oakwell since 2007-2008 when Brian Howard scored a ninth minute penalty whilst it is the earliest opening day Oakwell goal from open play since Paul Hayes scored after 11 minutes in a 2-0 win over Swindon in 2005-2006.
Thomas is the first Barnsley debutant to score on the opening day since Wilkinson at Chesterfield.
At the other end of the pitch Sami Radlinger became the first goalkeeper to start a season for the Reds not called Adam Davies since 2013-2014 and kept a debut clean sheet on the opening day becoming the first debutant goalkeeper to do so since Sasa Ilic against Colchester in 2003-2004.
Barnsley have now won four home league games in a row stretching back to April
This was only Fulham's second defeat in 14 trips to Yorkshire (W7 D5 L2), though they have now lost their last two visits (also Huddersfield)
The Cottagers have now lost nine of their last 10 league games away from Craven Cottage.
Daniel Stendel did not make a substitution until the 86th minute, the latest he has ever waited to make a Barnsley change, it is the latest first Barnsley substitution since April 2018 when Jose Morias waited until the 87th minute in the final home game of the season, v Brentford.
Despite victory Barnsley were second best in ball possession (45%) the first time they have not had more possession than their opponents at Oakwell since the Sunderland game in March (48%) and it is the lowest they have had at Oakwell since the final home game of 2017-2018 (36%)
There were 32 shots in the game (17-15) the most in a Barnsley game since Accrington at home in March (34)
For the first time in eight years all three promoted League One teams avoided defeat on the opening day with Luton drawing 3-3 with Middlesbrough and Charlton winning 2-1 at Blackburn. The last time this occured was in 2011-2012 when Brighton, Southampton and Peterborough all won their first game back in the second tier.
Barnsley Team:
1. Sami Radlinger
12. Dimitri Cavare
5. Bambo Diaby
6. Mads Anderson
21. Toby Sibbick
16. Luke Thomas
8. Cameron McGeehan
27. Alex Mowatt
10. Mike Bahre (C)
9. Cauley Woodrow
36. Mallik Wilks
Substitutes:
11. Conor Chaplin (for Thomas 86)
25. George Miller (for Woodrow 90+1)
26. Mamadou Thiam (for Wilks 90+4)
Unused Substitutes:
3. Ben Williams, 20. Callum Styles, 24. Aapo Halme, 40. Brad Collins.
Fulham Team
1. Marcus Bettinelli
4. Denis Odoi
5. Alfie Mawson
20 Maxime Le Marchand
23. Joe Bryan
6. Kevin McDonald
8. Stefan Johansen
10. Tom Cairney
47. Aboubakar Kamara
9. Aleksander Mitrovic
19. Ivan Cavaleiro
Substitutions:
22. Cyrus Christie (for Le Marchand 33)
24. Anthony Knockaert (for Johansen 65)
11. Floyd Ayite (for Cavaleiro 74)
Unused Substitutes:
7. Neeskens Kebano, 12. Marek Rodak, 17. Rui Fonte, 36. Luca De La Torre.
Fulham manager Scott Parker said:
“Overall, I’m bitterly disappointed,”
“It was the first game of the season, so we knew it’d be a tough battle, which it proved.
“We started okay, but then they got a grip of the game and caused us one or two problems.
“We anticipated how fast they’d be out the blocks, as they’re a very strong side at home.
“We got into the game, huffed and puffed, and had some good chances, but their defending was heroic at times.
“We understand the league, a lot of players have been in this division, but you can always lose a game of football.
“In the first half, we were pretty slow to second balls, lacked a real intensity at times and looked a little short.
“I felt we came on strong in the second-half, caused them a few problems and we could've got one back, but it wasn't to be."
Match Reports:
Official Website
BBC
Sky Sports
Championship results:
Friday 2nd August 2019:
Luton Town (POS) 3-3 Middlesbrough
Fletcher 7
Bradley 17
Cranie 24
Assombalonga 37
Wing 68
Collins 85
Saturday 3rd August 2019:
BARNSLEY 1-0 Fulham
Thomas 13
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Charlton Athletic
Purrington 43
Phillips og 54
Taylor 77
Brentford 0-1 Birmingham City
Pedersen 18
Millwall 1-0 Preston North End
Wallace 33
Reading 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday
Harris 30
Meite 54
Hutchinson 56
Joao 90+7
Stoke City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers
Hugill 8
Eze 53
Clucas 78
Swansea City 2-1 Hull City
Grosicki 3
Baston 48
Van der Hoorn 49
Wigan Athletic 3-2 Cardiff City
Ralls 20
Jacobs 59
Windass 63
Bogle 70
Evans 75
Nottingham Forest 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
Cash 8
Edwards 15
Phillips 26
Sunday 4th August 2019:
Bristol City 1-3 Leeds United
Hernandez 26
Bamford 57
Harrison 72
Weimann 79
Monday 5th August 2019:
Huddersfield Town 1-2 Derby County
Lawrence 22
Lawrence 25
Grant pen 30
Barnsley lie in 9th place in the Sky Bet Championship with 3 points from 1 game. We are Goals Scored outside the Play-Offs, Goals Scored off the Automatic Promotion Places, Goals Scored off First Place and 3 points above the Relegation Zone.
Up to 6/8/19
Next Up:
On The Road:
Sky Bet Championship Matchday Two: Sheffield Wednesday v Barnsley, Saturday 10th August 2019. Kick-Off: 3pm
At Oakwell:
EFL Cup First Round: Barnsley v Carlisle United, Tuesday 13th August 2019. Kick-Off: 7:45pm