On opening day in England, Brad Friedel's Rovers left it late on the road, Tim Howard's Toffees downed a nearby rival at Goodison and Jay DeMerit's Watford pulled a Molineaux smash-and-grab.

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GUNNERS PULL ONE OUT OF FIRE
A sub-standard Arsenal looked like home losers for 84 opening day minutes, but Fulham allowed a pair of late goals to suffer the 2-1 loss.

Carlos Bocanegra and captain Brian McBride went the full 90, while Clint Dempsey entered at halftime.

The Cottagers were up mere seconds after kickoff as Jens Lehmann clumsily cleared as far as the onrushing, and only too happy to score, David Healy.

Aliaksandr Hleb had a decent penalty gripe ignored in the 10th minute, but it would not be the last time he made a toy of Fulham debutant Chris Baird.

Last minute stand-in Tony Warner stood up tall in the away net, especially as the period drew to its close. The keeper tipped a Tomáš Rosický shot wide in the 35th minute, then performed a double save on Hleb and Robin van Persie moments later.

Arsenal resumed the chase after intermission, with Zat Knight forced to nudge away a Rosický chip effort and then a Kolo Touré low drive.

The Americans had openings to an insurance tally, but couldn't find the target. Bocanegra whiffed from close range on a McBride set-up before Dempsey rifled wide in the 77th minute.

With six minutes left, Bocanegra stopped in on a weaving Emmanuel Eboué just as he entered the Fulham area and Van Persie smashed home the resulting penalty.

After Warner smothered a Nicklas Bendtner turn around try, Hleb got loose of a bungling Baird to blast a settled long ball for the last gasp winner.

Scoring
FUL - David Healy 1 1'
ARS - Robin Van Persie 1 (PK) 84'
ARS - Alexander Hleb 1 90'

Line-ups
ARS - Jens Lehmann; Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboué (Theo Walcott 62'), William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Kolo Touré, Francesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Aliaksandr Hleb, Tomáš Rosický (Nicklas Bendtner 72'), Robin van Persie (Alexandre Song 90')

FUL - Tony Warner; Chris Baird, Carlos Bocanegra, Zak Knight, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Steven Davis, Alexei Smertin (Papa Bouba Diop 72'), Hameur Bouazza (Clint Dempsey 46'), David Healy (Diomansy Kamara 63'), Brian McBride

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ROYALS SCORE OLD TRAFFORD POINT
Marcus Hahnemann and Reading withstood nine Manchester United shots on goal and the late ejection of striker Dave Kitson to post a scoreless opening day road share.

Recovering winger Bobby Convey, meanwhile, did not suit up for the Royals.

The Red Devils went to work early and often, owning 73% of the ball on the day. Hahnemann had to be alert to race out and smother a Wayne Rooney chance, then Michael Carrick buzzed a shot just over frame.

Cristiano Ronaldo picked out a far post Ryan Giggs with his curling cross midway through the period, but the Welsh ace smashed his volley into the side netting.

Shortly thereafter, the reigning EPL Player of the Year ran the left side to cross for Rooney, who directed his firm header just high.

Rooney misfired on another set-up near the break, then became tangled with Michael Duberry on the follow through. The England star was removed at the half for new signing Nani.

United opened the second frame as insistent as the first, but without much accuracy. Patrice Evra should have done better on a corner kick chance and Giggs drove a long free kick just wide.

When the hosts did break through for a closer try, Hahnemann turned them away. Giggs slipped John O'Shea into great position, but the American keeper came out to make the save.

With 18 minutes remaining, Kitson was waved a harsh red for sliding in late on Evra near the corner. Hahnemann was up to the late test, shunning Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, and most spectacularly, Paul Scholes to preserve the draw.

Line-ups
MU - Edwin van der Sar; Wes Brown (Darren Fletcher 77'), Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Mikael Silvestre (John O'Shea 57'), Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney (Nani 46')

REA - Marcus Hahnemann; Ulises De la Cruz, Ivar Ingimarsson, Michael Duberry, Nicky Shorey, Graeme Murty, Seol Ki-Hyeon (John Oster 57'), James Harper, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Stephen Hunt (Andre Bikey 87'), Kevin Doyle (Dave Kitson 72')

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TOFFEES DOUBLE UP WIGAN
Tim Howard and Everton earned their first three points of the season with a 2-1 win over Wigan at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The US keeper was at his early best to stop a defelcted Paul Scharner try.

Leon Osman drew first blood on 26 minutes, heading Tony Hibbert's cross past Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland.

Everton should have had a chance to double their lead minutes later when Mikel Arteta was fouled in the box, but referee Mark Clattenberg waived play on.

Victor Anichebe gave the home side a two-goal lead midway through the second half on an Andy Johnson set up.

Howard made a big stop on Scharner as time wound down to the final 10 minutes.

Wigan, however, were not ready to call the game lost, pulling a goal back five minutes later, thanks to Antoine Sibierski.

Everton will gear up for a trip to London to face Tottenham on Tuesday.

Scoring
EVE - Leon Osman 1 (Tony Hibbert) 25'
EVE - Victor Anichebe 1 (Andrew Johnson) 74'
WIG - Antoine Sibierski 79'

Line-ups
EVE - Tim Howard; Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman (Steven Pienaar 72'), Victor Anichebe, Andrew Johnson

WIG - Chris Kirkland, Paul Scharner, Mario Melchiot, Titus Bramble, Andreas Granqvist, Kevin Kilbane, Antonio Valencia, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Caleb Folan (Antoine Sibierski 65'), Emile Heskey

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ROVERS FIGHT BACK AT BORO
Blackburn started their campaign off right with a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at The Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Stuart Downing got the opening goal 31 minutes into play, but Premiership newbie Roque Santa Cruz tied it up in the second half with a sensational header.

The goal of the match, however, was Matt Derbyshire's winner, a superbly curled strike into the far corner.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel was between the sticks for Rovers, marking his eighth season with the club, and made a key late kick stop to preserve the win.

Blackburn's mid-week match against Aston Villa has been postponed, in exchange for a Thursday UEFA Cup contest against Finland's MyPa.

Scoring
MID - Stewart Downing 1 31'
BLK - Roque Santa Cruz 1 (David Bentley) 63'
BLK - Matt Derbyshire 1 79'

Line-ups
MID - Mark Schwarzer; Andrew Davies, Chris Riggott, David Wheater, Andrew Taylor, Tuncay Sanli (Adam Johnson 85'), Julio Arca (Lee Cattermole 88'), George Boateng, Stewart Downing, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Jérémie Aliadière (Dong-Gook Lee 84')

BLK - Brad Friedel; Andre Ooijer, Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley, David Dunn (Aaron Mokoena 90'), Robbie Savage, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Benni McCarthy (Roque Santa Cruz 60'), Jason Roberts (Matt Derbyshire 78')

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HAMMERS DROP UPTON OPENER
West Ham United were handed a disappointing start to their season, losing at home 2-0 to a virtually rebuilt Manchester City side.

Jonathan Spector was in the backline for West Ham and worked the full 90.

Rolando Bianchi opened by linking up with fellow Citeh newcomer Elano in the 18th minute.

Dean Ashton misfired a late header high in the sluggish hosts best chance of the day, and Geovanni topped off the scoring as the Sky Blues took the points at Upton Park.

The Hammers' next match is schedule to be at Liverpool, although the date is yet to be determined.

Scoring
MC - Rolando Bianchi 1 (Elano) 18'
MC - Geovanni 1 (Nedum Onuoha) 87'

Line-ups
WHU - Robert Green; Jonathan Spector, Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, George McCartney (Dean Ashton 62'), Fredrik Ljungberg, Lee Bowyer (Hayden Mullins 45'), Mark Noble, Luis Boa Morte (Matthew Etherington 45'), Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy

MC - Kasper Schmeichel; Micah Richards, Vedran Corluka (Nedum Onuoha 61'), Richard Dunne, Javier Garrido, Elano (Geovanni 79'), Dietmar Hamann, Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Stephen Ireland, Rolando Bianchi (Valeri Bojinov 60')

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WEDNESDAY SUFFER TRACTOR TRACKS
Ipswich Town made light work of visitors Sheffield Wednesday with a 4-1 shellacking at Portman Road on Saturday.

The Owls caught a glimpse of what was to come when conceding an early penalty after Lee Bullen took down Pablo Counago in the area. Alan Lee had no problem putting it away from the spot.

Shortly thereafter, Gary Roberts finished a Lee cross to double the lead.

It was Lee once again to bounce a volley over the head of Owls keeper Lee Grant in the 25th minute.

Pablo Counago put the final nail in the coffin 10 minutes after the break.

Frank Simek earned himself his first booking of the season, going down under a Dan Harding challenge after carrying the ball into the box - the ref decided it was simulation.

Wednesday will continue their travels to Rotherham for a midweek Carling Cup match.

Scoring
IPS - Alan Lee 1 (PK) 2'
IPS - Gary Roberts 1 (Alan Lee) 11'
IPS - Alan Lee 2 25'
IPS - Pablo Counago 1 (Jonathan Walters) 60'
SHW - Billy Clarke 1 89'

Line-ups
IPS - Neil Alexander; David Wright, Jason De Vos, Alex Bruce, Dan Harding, Jonathan Walters, Owen Garvan, Tommy Miller (Sylvain Legwinski 83'), Gary Roberts, Pablo Counago (Billy Clarke 74'), Alan Lee (Danny Haynes 67')

SHW - Lee Grant; Frank Simek, Lee Bullen (Kenny Lunt 46'), Richard Wood, Peter Gilbert, Jermaine Johnson (Wade Small 76'), Glenn Whelan, Steve Watson, Chris Brunt, Francis Jeffers (Leon Clare 74'), Marcus Tudgay

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HORNETS STING WITH LATE FLIP
Watford got their promotion drive off to a rollicking start, scoring their goals in the waning moments to book an 2-1 opening day rally win at Wolverhampton.

US international Jay Demerit worked the entirety in central defense for the Hornets, who are hoping for a quick bounce back to the Premiership. Transfer listed Wolves striker Jemal Johnson, however, did not dress.

The hosts came out firing, with Gavin Mahon and Tamás Priskin flashing efforts just wide in the opening moments. Not to be outdone, Marlon King and Tommy Smith then each hooked a shot off frame.

Wolves began nipping at Watford as the intermission approached, and Seyi George Olofinjana popped in to bury a Stephen Elliott feed on first half stoppage time.

King had an equalizer nullified in the 63rd minute due to a snappy offside flag, and the Hornets seemed to lose their buzz for a spell.

Jobi McAnuff squandered a prime chance to tie the game with 22 minutes left, but Watford would finally collect their deserved marker from an unlikely source.

With the three minutes left, Jordan Stewart silenced Molineaux with a sterling 25-meter free kick, his first ever Hornets strike.

There was still enough time for plenty of drama as substitute Steve Kabba was blatantly bowled over by Neill Collins deep into added time.

King capably fired the winner from the spot, but the win wasn't safe until Mart Poom saved Watford's bacon by nudging Olofinjana's last gasp shot onto the post.

The Hornets now return to Vicarage Road for a Carling Cup clash with League One Gillingham, then stay home for a Saturday visit from fellow droppers Sheffield United.

Scoring
WLV - Seyi George Olofinjana 1 (Stephen Elliott) 45+
WAT - Jordan Stewart 1 87'
WAT - Marlon King 1 (PK) 90+5'

WAT - Mart Poom; Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit, Danny Shittu, Jordan Stewart, Jobi McAnuff, Gavin Mahon, Lee Williamson, Tommy Smith (Steve Kabba 81), Marlon King, Tamás Priskin (Darius Henderson 48')

WLV - Wayne Hennessey, Neill Collins, Michael Gray, Seyi George Olofinjana, Gary Breen (Edwards 69), Darren Ward, Michael Kightly, Darren Potter, Andrew Keogh, Stephen Elliott (Jay Bothroyd 74), Stephen Ward

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WHITES MAKE WINNING START
Leeds United enjoyed a welcome respite from off the field matters with a 2-1 opening day victory over Tranmere at Elland Road.

Eddie Lewis went the distance at left back for the victors, who fell behind to a Chris Greenacre strike midway through the opening set.

The Whites increased their efforts after halftime, and were pulled level by a Matt Heath header moments before the hour.

The hosts continued to push, with Kandol spurning a pair of opportunities. The striker would have the last laugh, however, by applying the fatal touch to an Andy Hughes doorstep service with 60 seconds left in regulation.

Leeds move on to a Carling Cup tie at Macclesfield on Tuesday before their League One home opener against Southend next weekend.

Scoring
TRA - Chris Greenacre 1 (Chris Shuker) 21'
LU - Matt Heath 1 (Alan Thompson) 55' 
LU - Tresor Kandol 1 (Andy Hughes) 89'

LU - Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson, Matt Heath, Rui Marques, Eddie Lewis, Curtis Weston (Tore Andre Flo 76'), Andy Hughes, Alan Thompson, Ian Westlake, Tresor Kandol, Jermaine Beckford (Jonathan Howson 90)

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ON THE SIDELINE
Soon-to-be Derby County man Benny Feilhaber had to be pleased as the Rams opened with a fightback 2-2 draw with visiting Portsmouth on Saturday.

New signing Eric Lichaj did not suit up as Aston Villa fell 2-1 on a late master free kick by Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

Recovering attacker Johann Smith was not present as Bolton suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to departed boss Sam Allardyce and Newcastle.

Cory Gibbs is also working his injury comeback and missed Charlton's 1-1 draw with visiting Scunthorpe.

Zak Whitbread watched from the pine as Millwall posted a scoreless draw at Doncaster.