Ian Clarkson
Ex-Birmingham captain on BBC Radio WM

The positives are Birmingham have not conceded a shot yet.

Sheffield United have huffed and puffed but nothing to show for it yet.

Blues, who have a new set piece coach, work the corner short and Alex Cochrane smashes a deep cross that goes by everyone.

Not sure they've been working on that one.

Matt Kilgallon
Former Sheff Utd defender on BBC Radio Sheffield

Sheffield United are defending it well but you don't want to keep on doing this because Birmingham are a big side.

Alex Cochrane's free-kick is headed behind for another corner to the away team.

Birmingham win three corners in quick succession.

The Blades clear but then concede a free-kick 30 yards from their own goal.

Image source, Shutterstock

Two pretty settled teams.

Across the 22 starters only Romelle Donovan, formerly of Birmingham and now on loan at Blades from Brentford, has joined either side this summer.

Blues go on their first foray forward down their right and August Priske is pulled up for a foul on Japhet Tanganga in the middle.

The Blades skipper is going to have his hands full with the big striker today.

The Blades started their league season with a Saturday evening home game last season.

They lost 4-1 to Bristol City and then lost their next five matches and sacked Ruben Selles.

Time, eh?

Back to the here and now the home side win an early corner down their right.

We're off and running at a raucous Bramall Lane.

The sun is shining and we have two teams with big ambitions this season. Lovely.

I... don't think Lincoln will finish in the top eight of the Championship but hey, who knows.

Good start to the season for QPR with a 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

Sheffield United make two alterations from the team that started the 3-0 win over Mansfield last week. Romelle Donovan and Sam McCallum come into the starting XI for Tahith Chong and Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Image source, Opta

Birmingham City go with the same XI who started the games against Swansea in the Carabao Cup last week. New signing Max Bird is on the bench after joining yesterday.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Shutterstock

It's been a cracking opening Saturday in the Championship so far and we've got one more game to round it out.

Sheffield United's horrendous start to the season put paid to any hopes of a promotion bid but they'll expect to go much better this time around.

Visitors Birmingham City will also be aiming to do better than last season, after ending up nine points short of the play-offs.

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers head coach Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Manchester:

"That's what this division is like, it's mental. From being in complete control of the game [we] probably should be further ahead than what we were.

"We are happy that they miss a sitter at the end to not take our three points away from us, which I felt on the whole we probably deserved. The Championship is going to be an exciting ride so strap in.

"We knew this was a big occasion for us today. The first game back at this level for such a long time. We're then playing against a local rival so there was so much riding on it and we prepared and we were ready to try to be positive."

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I said at half-time to the players I thought we could win the game. We were poor first-half in terms of the goals that we gave away. Whether it was the first game or not but they were certainly not the goals that we want to give away.

"We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb and it was as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd - it seemed to catch us cold.

"One or two [players] won't play like that again. We need to be better but there were also some good moments and I'm pleased with some of the new boys."

Before we get onto the business of Sheffield United v Birmingham City, let's take a look what the managers had to say following our early afternoon game...

Will Lankshear's double gave Middlesbrough a win over Lincoln in the Championship.

Meanwhile, brother Alex Lankshear grabbed a goal in Gateshead's 2-0 win over Woking in the National League.

The Heed are managed by former Boro midfielder Lee Cattermole.

Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire sport

Image source, PA Media

Frustration for Lincoln City in the end.

They more than matched Middlesbrough today. In that final 10 minutes they were going all out to win the game, but it didn't quite happen.

They were so close to getting a memorable point.

Michael Hortin
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

It's a cruel, cruel afternoon and it's a quality of a multimillion pound singing in Will Lankshear that's made the difference.

What a performance but it's just a moment of quality from Lankshear.

QPR get the job done over a vulnerable Portsmouth.

The R's capitalised on Pompey's weaknesses at the back in the first half to build what was eventually an insurmountable lead.

Lots to think about for Portsmouth boss John Mousinho. The transfer window isn't over yet and he must be thinking about that backline.