The second matchday of the 2017/18 Sky Bet EFL season produced a trio of hat-tricks, Hawk-Eye technology coming to use, and entertainment aplenty.
Abel Hernandez was one of the three men to take home an EFL match ball on Matchday 2, firing Hull City to a 4-1 win over Burton Albion.
Nottingham Forest were another to score four, with Andreas Bouchalakis netting a fine brace in a thrilling 4-3 win at Brentford. Andreas Bjelland was on target for the Bees — his goal the first to be confirmed by Hawk-Eye technology being used in the Championship this season.
Hawk-Eye came to use in the @SkyBetChamp today, confirming this header crossed the line in @BrentfordFC's 4-3 loss to @NFFC. 👁 pic.twitter.com/K0S2Pb7oI6
— EFL (@EFL) August 12, 2017
Bristol City scored yet another early goal but their lead was wiped out as Birmingham City defeated the Robins 2-1, and Ipswich Town also came from behind, beating Barnsley by the same scoreline.
Cardiff City’s Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored twice as the Bluebirds cruised to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa, but there was joy for the Villans' West Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, who ran out 2-0 winners at Derby County.
Elsewhere, matches at Leeds United, Millwall, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday all finished level, while Middlesbrough won the evening kick-off, defeating Sheffield United 1-0 at the Riverside.
On Sunday, Sunderland travelled to Norwich City and left with all three points after an impressive 3-1 victory. Lewis Grabban scored two against his former club and, despite later finding his own net, the Black Cats held on.
Rotherham United were the day’s big winners, with Kieffer Moore netting a first half hat-trick as the Millers romped to a 5-0 win over Southend United.
Moore wasn’t the only man to net a treble; Peterborough United’s Jack Marriott grabbed three in the Posh’s 4-1 win at Bristol Rovers.
Doncaster Rovers also won on the road, overcoming Blackburn Rovers by three goals to one, while Bradford City, Fleetwood Town and Shrewsbury Town all won 1-0 to earn victories away from home.
That was also the scoreline as Blackpool edged past Milton Keynes Dons at Bloomfield Road for their first win since returning to Sky Bet League One, and Plymouth Argyle also got off the mark, defeating Charlton Athletic 2-0.
Elsewhere, Oxford United registered a comfortable 3-0 win over Portsmouth, Walsall’s Erhun Oztumer struck late to sink Oldham Athletic, and Rochdale and Scunthorpe United shared the spoils at Spotland.
Wigan Athletic hosted Bury on Sunday, and the hosts strolled to a 4-1 victory. Michael Jacobs got the Latics off to a flyer before Alex Bruce scored for the Shakers, just hours after signing for Lee Clark's side.
However, Nick Powell added two, before Lee Evans struck in stoppage time to secure all three points.
Coventry City are the only team to boast two wins from two matches, after a pair of second-half goals saw them to victory at Grimsby Town.
Wycombe Wanderers raced into a three-goal lead at Port Vale, aided by Adebayo Akinfenwa’s brace, and they held on to win despite a spirited second-half effort from the Valiants.
Yeovil Town, who lost 8-2 on the opening day, may have feared the worst when falling behind to Accrington Stanley early on, but the Glovers fought back to win 3-2.
The team that inflicted that huge loss, Luton Town, couldn’t carry on their goalscoring form, falling to a late 1-0 defeat at the hands of Barnet.
Nottinghamshire duo Notts County and Mansfield Town both registered 2-0 triumphs at home, while Cheltenham Town won 1-0 thanks to the latest strike from the impressive Mohamed Eisa.
Elsewhere, Carlisle United won 2-1 away for the second time this week, defeating Cambridge United, and there were 1-1 draws at the homes of Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Lincoln City and Swindon Town.
