Warnock promises excitement despite stalemate
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Your support makes all the difference.Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United were held to a goalless draw by Gillingham at Bramall Lane but the Blades' manager, Neil Warnock, had no complaints. "I couldn't have asked for any more effort," he said. "We knew it would be tough and we've got a point so we're off and running."
Warnock believes there is plenty of excitement to come at Bramall Lane this season. "Most of the teams who come here will play open football," he said. "The fans are in for a good season, they'll get entertained."
His summer signings, Chris Morgan and Chris Armstrong, played in defence and the United captain, Roger Page, thinks he will enjoy a fruitful partnership with Morgan. "I enjoyed playing alongside him," said Page. "He's an honest lad who always gives 100 per cent."
Warnock's Gillingham counterpart, Andy Hessenthaler, was happy with his side's performance and said: "With the heat it was tough for both teams and I was pleased with a point and a clean sheet. We had some key players missing but I just felt we let ourselves down when we had the ball."
Hessenthaler felt his new 3-5-2 system worked well. "The three centre-backs were fantastic," he said. "I also thought they paid Paul Shaw a big compliment by getting Mark Rankine to man-mark him."
Millwall's opening game was touched by sadness following the death of their former first-team coach, Ray Harford. Goals from Dennis Wise and Tim Cahill gave them a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic and it was a fitting tribute to Harford, who had developed many younger members of their first-team squad.
Wimbledon made light of another tiny crowd - just 1,145 - at home to Crewe with a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park. Patrick Agyemang, Alex Tapp and Nigel Reo-Coker scored for the Dons after Dave Brammer had put Crewe in front.
Tommy Miller rescued a point for Ipswich with a last-minute penalty against Reading at Portman Road after Steve Sidwell had put the visitors in front.
And there were more late heroics at Valley Parade where Ben Muirhead and Michael Branch scored in the last six minutes to earn Bradford a point against Norwich.
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