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Super sub Grant Ward enjoyed a debut to remember by grabbing a hat-trick as Ipswich claimed a thrilling 4-2 victory over newly promoted Barnsley on the Championship 's opening weekend.

A largely dismal game burst into life with four goals in the 18 minutes that followed half-time with Ward, a £600,000 signing from Tottenham, scoring with his first touch just 39 seconds after coming on.

Conor Hourihane equalised for Barnsley but Ipswich raced into a 3-1 lead thanks to Ward and a penalty from David McGoldrick in the 63rd minute.

(Image: REX)

Barnsley threatened a comeback when Marley Watkins headed home in the 74th minute, but Ward completed a dream debut by grabbing the match ball with just six minutes left.

Elsewhere, Burton manager Nigel Clough made an eventful return to the City Ground as a double from Britt Assombalonga lifted Nottingham Forest to a 4-3 victory.

It was Forest boss Philippe Montanier celebrating and Clough wondering what might have been.

Goals from Lucas Akins and Lloyd Dyer had given the Brewers a 2-1 lead by the half-hour mark, after Assombalonga put the home side ahead.

(Image: Tony Marshall/Getty)

But Burton's first appearance in the Championship - and their first clash with Clough's former club Forest - was to end in defeat, as Thomas Lam lashed home an equaliser, before a second-half goal from Oliver Burke and Assombalonga's second appeared to give Forest a comfortable cushion.

Substitute Tom Naylor glanced home a 90th-minute header, from a Hamza Choudhury cross, to ensure a nervous finish.

Norwich City, relegated from the Premier League last season, began their Championship campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

(Image: PA)

Jacob Murphy, Wes Hoolahan and Cameron Jerome, who were all at the club when they were promoted in 2015, put coach Alex Neil's side in a commanding position as they delivered an early statement of intent to the rest of the league.

Steven Naismith added a fourth in the 58th minute to complete a miserable afternoon for Blackburn who pulled a goal back through substitute Anthony Stokes.

In pictures - Norwich run riot at Ewood Park:

Kasey Palmer made an instant impact in senior football as Huddersfield ended their opening day hoodoo with a 2-1 victory over Brentford.

Winger Palmer, on a season-long loan from Chelsea, had only been on the field a matter of seconds when he pounced to snatch the three points with a 79th-minute winner.

Jaap Stam made an encouraging start as Reading manager as his side registered a 1-0 victory over Preston at the Madejski Stadium.

(Image: Rex)

Reading could have won more comfortably, but were let down by wayward and had to settle for one goal - from former Chelsea midfielder John Swift in the first half - to secure the win.

Wolves salvaged a point after falling 2-0 behind against Rotherham with goals from George Saville and Jon Dadi Boedvarsson.

The Millers raced into a 2-0 lead through Danny Ward and Will Vaulks but couldn't hold on against 10-man Wolves.

(Image: Sam Bagnall - AMA/Getty Images)

Tomasz Kuszczak made a string of fine saves as Birmingham began their campaign with a goalless home draw against Cardiff.

Cardiff were left to rue a glaring miss from debutant striker Frederic Gounongbe, who contrived to shoot over with the goal at his mercy before half-time.

Bristol City came from a goal down with 10 minutes remaining to take all three points against Wigan.

(Image: REX)

Newly promoted Wigan took the lead through Alex Gilbey but late goals from Tammy Abraham and Bobby Reid secured all three points for the hosts.

And finally new Derby boss Nigel Pearson was unable to record a win in his first home game as manager with the Rams playing out a 0-0 draw with Brighton.

Full results

Birmingham 0-0 Cardiff

Blackburn 1-4 Norwich

Bristol City 2-1 Wigan

Derby 0-0 Brighton

Huddersfield 2-1 Brentford

Ipswich 4-2 Barnsley

Nottingham Forest 4-3 Burton Albion

Reading 1-0 Preston

Rotherham 2-2 Wolves