Football League kicks off

The Premier League does not kick off for a week, but the Football League programme began yesterday up and down the country.

The biggest game of the day was between two sides relegated to the Championship last season, West Brom and Newcastle. It ended 1-1 with as Damien Duff cancelled out Shelton Martis's opener for West Brom.

There was a minute's applause for the memory of Bobby Robson, who played for West Brom and managed Newcastle. And, as usual, there was plenty of drama from Newcastle with reports of training ground bust-ups before the game and a debut for keeper Tim Krul, who replaced the concussed Steve Harper at half time.

Elsewhere, Derby, managed by the Nigel Clough - son of Brian, beat Peterborough, managed by Darren Ferguson - son of Sir Alex. And in League One Norwich began their campaign in disastrous fashion, losing 7-1 at home to Colchester.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:Duncan White, Sunday Telegraph: "New division, same old story. Newcastle started life in the Championship yesterday with prospects of a takeover fading, no manager in place and Joey Barton dropped to the bench, a demotion apparently down to a training ground bust up."

Rob Draper, Mail on Sunday: "Newcastle arrived at The Hawthorns sporting the garish away kit that has been boycotted by fans, with Joey Barton on the bench after reports of an altercation with temporary manager Chris Hughton and with their fans directed abuse at owner Mike Ashley."

Paul Rowan, Sunday Times: "The holders of the torch in the two most famous managerial dynasties in the country did their families proud as Derby County snatched a late victory in this thrilling contest. Ferguson versus Clough, Mark II, was a gripping contest marked by plenty of excellent football, even if it took a scrappy goal from Gary Teale three minutes from the end to deny the visitors a point they probably deserved."

The Observer: "Having not played in English football's third tier for 50 years, Norwich might be forgiven for not knowing exactly what to expect from League One, but few expected them to have been caught as cold as this, Colchester inflicting a thoroughly humiliating drubbing on the newly relegated side, whose defence was in complete disarray." ·