Debutants shine on opening day

A debut goal from Emmanuel Adebayor helped big-spending Manchester City FC to a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers FC on the opening day of the Premier League season, while Thomas Vermaelen was among the scorers on his Arsenal FC bow as the Gunners won 6-1 at Everton FC.

Dream start
Adebayor, a €29m signing from Arsenal last month, gave Mark Hughes's expensively-assembled outfit the perfect start at Ewood Park, firing the visitors in front after three minutes. Hughes introduced Carlos Tévez in place of Robinho for his City debut after 69 minutes, but it was one of the club's homegrown players, Stephen Ireland, who confirmed all three points in added time. Adebayor's former team registered the biggest win of the day, however, striking three times in each half ahead of their UEFA Champions League play-off against Celtic FC on Tuesday. Denilson, Vermaelen, William Gallas, two from Cesc Fàbregas and an Eduardo da Silva strike made it 6-0 before Louis Saha (90) struck a consolation.

Late winner
Debutant Stephen Hunt (28) put Hull City AFC ahead in the early kick-off at Chelsea FC and so had the honour of scoring the first top-flight goal of the season. Didier Drogba (37) curled in a free-kick and scored with a cross-cum-shot in added time, ensuring Carlo Ancelotti a winning start to life as manager of the west-London outfit.

Newcomers lose
Meanwhile, Darren Bent (5) scored the only goal on his Sunderland AFC debut as the north-east club won 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers FC, and Wigan Athletic FC upset UEFA Europa League contenders Aston Villa FC with a 2-0 win at Villa Park. Burnley FC's first top-flight match in 33 years ended in a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City FC, while their fellow newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers FC faired little better, losing by the same score at home to West Ham United FC. Elsewhere, Fulham FC won 1-0 at Portsmouth FC.