Luton and Middlesbrough get the new Championship season off to cracker with thrilling 3-3 draw at Kenilworth Road

The Championship returned with a bang at Kenilworth Road as Luton Town and Middlesbrough played out a 3-3 draw.

Britt Assombalonga had the chance to wrap up all three points for Jonathon Woodgate’s side, but blazed his penalty way over the bar and it proved costly.

Ashley Fletcher scored the first goal of the Football League season as Boro took an early lead at Luton.

The forward headed in Marvin Johnson’s cross from six yards in the seventh minute as the visitors made a flying start in Woodgate’s first game as manager.

Sonny Bradley hammered home a superb long-range equaliser 10 minutes later and fellow defender Martin Cranie headed Luton in front from Andrew Shinnie’s 24th-minute corner.

But Boro were back on level terms when a defensive error let in Britt Assombalonga, whose weak finish squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Simon Sluga at the near post to leave it 2-2 at half-time.

Lewis Wing then put the visitors back in front as he took a touch back to the edge of the box from Jonny Howson, and then hammered a searing, curling, swinging drive which beat Simon Sluga for pace and power.

Hayden Coulson was then hauled down in the box by Martin Cranie, but Assombalonga could not duble his tally.

The DR Congo international blazed his penalty over the bar and Luton capitalised.

After Boro failed to clear a free-kick, the ball found its way back to James Collins, who pounced in the 18-yard-box to slot home a dramatic equaliser with just five minutes remaining.

Collins could even have won the game for his side in stoppage time, but Darren Randolph brilliantly saved his effort and Coulson blocked Harry Cornick’s follow-up as the game finished 3-3.

All the opening weekend fixtures for the 2019/20 EFL Championship

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