Johnson helps Forest to winning start - round-up

David Johnson, the striker who cost Nottingham Forest £3m four years ago, ensured Gary Megson’s side began their Coca-Cola League One campaign in winning style today.

The former Ipswich player was just a substitute, as Gareth Taylor and Scott Dobie led the line for relegated Forest, but he came off the bench to plunder an 87th-minute decider and clinch a 2-1 win over Huddersfield.

Dobie had put Forest ahead just a minute before half-time, but Pawel Abbott’s penalty in the 64th minute had given the City Ground visitors hopes of a point, only for Johnson to deny them late on.

Forest supporters will demand their team challenge for promotion, while those of Bradford will be optimistic after opening their campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Hartlepool.

Their goals came from the experienced Dean Windass, who opened the scoring after eight minutes, and Bobby Petta, who doubled the Bantams’ lead in the 55th minute.

Gillingham have high hopes of returning to the Championship at the first attempt, and Darren Byfield’s late goal against Colchester at the Priestfield Stadium sneaked them a 2-1 victory.

Neil Danns had given Colchester a 50th-minute lead, but Andrew Crofts levelled up quarter of an hour from time, before Byfield blasted home from 25 yards in the 89th minute.

Barnsley and Swindon, both Premier League clubs in the 1990s, met at Oakwell, where goals from Paul Hayes and Chris Shuker earned the Tykes all three points. Robbie Williams was sent off in the second half for Barnsley, after a deliberate handball.

Chesterfield’s season began brightly in Blackpool, with a 3-1 win over the Seasiders.

Keigan Parker’s early goal for Blackpool was soon cancelled out by Wayne Allison, and Mark DeBolla put Chesterfield in front before the break, with Steve Blatherwick’s header midway through the second half settling the issue definitively in favour of the Spireites.

DJ Campbell, an FA Cup hero last season for Yeading, scored his first league goal for Brentford as they beat Scunthorpe 2-0.

Jay Tabb put the Bees ahead after 71 minutes and Campbell scored from the spot 10 minutes later.

League Two champions Yeovil came down to earth with a 2-0 defeat at Oldham, whose goals came in the space of three first-half minutes from Chris Porter and Paul Warne.

Rotherham’s fortunes showed little sign of improving as they slid to a 2-1 home loss against Paul Merson’s Walsall.

Kris Taylor gave Walsall a second-minute lead, and although Martin Butler made it 1-1 after 42 minutes, Jorge Leitao lobbed a winner in the third minute of second-half injury time.

Port Vale won 2-1 at promoted Southend, thanks to two goals from Nathan Lowndes, with Wayne Gray’s response in vain, while Adebayo Akinfenwa pouched the only goal at the New Stadium as Swansea celebrated moving into a fresh home by beating Tranmere.

Bristol City were held to a goalless draw by Doncaster at Ashton Gate, while MK Dons were pinned back from 2-0 down to draw with Bournemouth.

Izale McLeod scored after 41 and 46 minutes for Danny Wilson’s men, but James Hayter and Andrew Surman replied for the Cherries.