English Football League action got underway on Friday night. Though Sheffield Wednesday don’t play until Sunday.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Steel City rivals Sheffield United were in action on Friday night, beating Preston North End 2-0 away from home.
Elsewhere, Derby County lost 4-2 at Blackburn Rovers, with South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley in action in League One.
The Tykes welcomed Mansfield Town to Oakwell, with Mansfield starting summer signing Lee Gregory up front.
Former Owls favourite Gregory left Sheffield Wednesday this summer after seeing his contract expire.
The 35-year-old Sheffield-born striker scored 29 goals in 101 total appearances for the Owls, including some important goals during the club’s two-year spell in League One.
Last season was a challenging one for Gregory who featured just 13 times in the Championship and fell well out of favour under Danny Rohl.
But Gregory bagged a debut goal for Mansfield on Friday night, and he certainly looked as though he enjoyed that goal.
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Former Sheffield Wednesday man Lee Gregory scores vs Barnsley on Mansfield Town debut
Gregory, who played for Mansfield Town briefly during their time in the Conference in the 2010, netted the Stags’ second goal of the 2024/25 season.
He doubled Mansfield Town’s lead, scoring in front of the home supporters at Oakwell and then celebrating in front of them.
Gregory headed home a driven cross from the right-hand side before standing aloft and raising his arms out wide in front of the Barnsley supporters.
Former Sheffield Wednesday man Lee Gregory will do a job in League One
Mansfield only won promotion from League Two under Nigel Clough last season.
But they look like possible dark horses in the race for promotion to the Championship this season.
The likes of Gregory provides vast experience and on Friday night he showed that he’s still got a scoring touch.
He took his goal well and Sheffield Wednesday fans will love that he celebrated in front of the Barnsley end; the Tykes look like they might struggle once again this season.
Gregory’s quality in League One and his inevitable exit from Sheffield Wednesday shows the raising standards at Hillsborough under Rohl.
This week, Sheffield Wednesday have re-signed Ike Ugbo in a deal that’s worth £3million.
It shows the progression that the club is making under Rohl this summer, with Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle on Sunday will truly showcase all the hard work done this summer.