English Football League 18/19: 5 most impressive matches of the opening afternoon

After a three month absence, the football league returned in England this weekend, with all three divisions showcasing what they had to offer.

While the opening day may not tell you everything you need to know about the coming 9 months, a big win can inspire teams and provide the players with the confidence they need to get an impressive campaign underway.

There was plenty of drama on the opening day, with several teams handing out a thrashing, and others producing inspired comebacks. Let's take a look at the five best performances of a thrilling opening afternoon in the EFL.

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#5 Sunderland 2-1 Charlton Athletic

Sunderland will be hoping to restore some joy to the Stadium of Light this season

Sunderland's second straight relegation to League One last season was one of the biggest shocks in the football league last year.

The Black Cats couldn't lift their heads following their relegation from the Premier League and they now find themselves in England's third division.

Their game with Charlton, the opening game of the League One season, saw two of the divisions most fancied sides go head to head.

Charlton fielded a much-changed side from their 11 who were defeated by Shrewsbury in last season's playoffs, and they started strongly, dominating the first half and going in 1-0 up thanks to a penalty from former Sunderland star, Lyle Taylor.

Sunderland, though, had other ideas, and inspired by a home crowd of over 30,000, fought back, scoring first through Josh Maja, before Lynden Gooch scored a 96th-minute winner to send the home fans into the rafters.

#4 Stevenage 2-2 Tranmere Rovers

Micky Mellon will be hoping to build on last season's promotion

Tranmere finally confirmed their return to the football league after a three-year absence in May when they defeated Boreham Wood in a thrilling play-off final.

Micky Mellon's men made a stuttering start to their game against Stevenage, going 2-0 down inside 27 minutes.

Tranmere came back fighting though, with striker James Norwood netting a brace to seal a point for the travelling team.

Tranmere were unlucky not to take all three points on Saturday, with Stevenage defender John Hunt seeing red with 15 minutes left to play.

#3 Port Vale 3-0 Cambridge United

Tom Pope grabbed an opening day brace

After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Port Vale kicked off their 18/19 campaign with an emphatic victory over Cambridge United.

The Staffordshire club have made several signings over the summer, and it was debutant Ricky Miller, signed from Peterborough this Summer, who opened the scoring on Saturday. Vale captain, Tom Pope would add two more goals, including a penalty, to get The Valiants' season off to an impressive start.

#2 Brentford 5-1 Rotherham United

Brentford v Rotherham United - Sky Bet Championship

Poor Rotherham. The Millers' last run in the Championship ended with them finishing with a record low points tally of 23, and if their first game of the season is anything to go by, it doesn't look like they are going to have much luck this time around either.

Brentford took the lead through Neal Malpay in the fourth minute and would double that through Sergi Canos before half-time. Ollie Watkins would add a third just after the break before Maupay would add another in the sixtieth minute. Lewis Macleod would then cement Rotherham's misery with a fifth in the dying moments.

The Millers did manage to snatch a goal back through Will Vaulks in stoppage time, but that was little more than a consolation.

Brentford are considered outsiders for a promotion push this season, but it looks as though The Bees will have to cope without Ryan Woods this year. The former Shrewsbury midfielder was left out of the squad on Saturday, with Swansea rumoured to be signing him before the transfer window closes next week.

#1 Crewe Alexandra 6-0 Morecambe

It could be a long season for Jim Bentley and Morecambe

Morecambe have been clinging to their football league status for a few years now, and if Saturday was anything to go by, things aren't looking too promising for the coming 9 months.

Former Morecambe player, David Artell, starting his first full season in charge of the club, will have been very happy with what he saw, as his team cruised to a comfortable 6-0 victory over Morecambe.

Alex Nicholls put in an impressive display for his new side; the former Barnet frontman bagged himself a brace, with Charlie Kirk and James Jones adding to the other two goals to the scoreline. The misery wouldn't stop there though, with Crewe scoring a fifth and sixth goal in the dying moments of the game.

Crewe failed to flatter last season, and they will be hoping to build on their opening day performance in the coming weeks, while it looks as though it could be a long year for Jim Ben.