Leicester City and Derby County, relegated from the Premiership last season, enjoyed a bright start to life in the first division with comfortable victories on the first day of the new season.
Leicester, playing a competitive match at their new Walkers stadium for the first time, beat Watford 2-0 with a brace from striker Brian Deane.
Derby, their east Midlands rivals, earned a 3-0 win over Reading at Pride Park with goals from Rob Lee, Italian Fabrizio Ravanelli and Malcolm Christie.
Ipswich Town, the other club relegated from the top flight last season, opened their first division campaign with a trip to Walsall later this evening and they too enjoyed success.
Goals from Darren Ambrose and Marcus Bent gave the Tractor Boys and 2-0 win and three points they richly deserved.
Wimbledon, planning to move to their new base in Milton Keynes later this season, lost 1-0 at home to Gillingham. Wimbledon fans unhappy at their club's relocation tried to orchestrate a boycott before the kick-off, staging a picket line at Selhurst Park hoping the match would be played in front of the lowest league crowd ever.
The Dons avoided that ignominious record with the official attendance put at 2,476, including 668 home fans according to the club.
Portsmouth's Deon Burton scored the first goal of the new first division season after eight minutes, as Harry Redknapp's side beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.
Brighton, second division champions last season, took the first division by storm with a 3-1 win at Burnley, while Darren Byfield's four goals helped Rotherham United stun Millwall with a 6-0 away win at the New Den.
Norwich City, beaten in last season's playoff final by Birmingham City, earned a 4-0 victory over Grimsby Town at Carrow Road.
New Coventry City player-manager Gary McAllister saw his side beat Sheffield United 2-1, while Sheffield Wednesday drew 0-0 with Stoke City.
Ipswich Town, the other club relegated from the top flight last season, open their first division campaign with a trip to Walsall later this evening.