League One: Ipswich boss praises ex-Portsmouth striker's impact | Oxford overcome bizarre coach problem | Sunderland edge promotion rivals

The Tractor Boys delivered a 2-0 win over relegation-favourites Rochdale at Portman Road.

Hawkins, who joined Ipswich after being released by the Blues earlier this summer, made his first league start for the club.

He assisted Ed Bishop's opener, as well as hitting the post himself with a shot on the swivel before half-time.

Ipswich have picked up maximum points so far and Lambert's delighted with his side's opening to the campaign.

He told the East Anglian Daily Times: ‘I thought we deserved to win.

‘At the start of the game we were sloppy. We had a lot of the ball without penetrating enough, but then we started to find our rhythm.

‘Oli had a great chance – it’s a brilliant header and a hell of a save, you’ve got to give that kid his dues. Then Oli hits the post, we have one off the line and you think it could be one of those days.

‘All credit to the guys, they found their feet, there were some really fantastic switches of play, the football was great, the off the ball running was great and we ultimately deserved the win. We were just a bit sloppy at the beginning.

‘I thought Oli Hawkins did great for the goal. I thought he had a great game. Everybody knows Bish can run off the ball. He gets people going the other way. If we can keep him fit he’ll be another asset.

‘I just thought Oli would give us something different. I don’t just mean physically. He’s got a good touch and I knew he’d be a handful. On another day he could have got a hat-trick. So yeah, it paid off.’

Hull are the only other team to have won all three matches so far (ahead of Lincoln’s meeting with Charlton today).

Keane Lewis-Potter and George Honeyman were on target in the Tigers’ 2-0 win at Northampton.

However, manager Grant McCann isn't getting too far ahead of himself.

‘I thought we showed real bravery to stand up to what they threw at us and then we capped it off with two excellent goals,’ he told BBC Radio Humberside.

‘We're pleased with the start we've made, but it's only a start.’

Meanwhile, Sunderland edged Peterborough 1-0 in a battle between two promotion contenders at the Stadium of Light.

The tight clash was separated by Grant Leadbitter's 81st-minute penalty for the Black Cats.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson was adamant the referee shouldn't have pointed to the spot for a foul on Denver Hume by Jack Taylor.

However, Sunderland counterpart Phil Parkinson was certain it was a penalty as his side sit fourth.

He told the Sunderland Echo: ‘First of all, it was a penalty. I don't think when Darren watches it back he can complain.

‘We probably should have had one before then, though I haven't seen that back.

‘It was a Premiership penalty from Grant. Not only that, he's cleared one off the line at the other end.

‘We always talk about the man in the near post space, that when the ball goes to the back post he has to drop in. He did that great.

‘Those moments separate the winners and the losers, the 0-0 draws and the 1-0 wins.'

Oxford had to overcome a bizarre event at their team hotel before going to Accrington - but still picked up a first win of the season.

As part of coronavirus precautions, last term's beaten play-off finalists have their team bus sprayed with an alcohol-based sanitiser.

That triggered the breathalyser used by the driver as a safety measure, meaning the coach wouldn't start.

The U's had to get taxis and lifts to the Wham Stadium, although they still picked up a 4-1 success.

Robinson told the Oxford Mail: ‘We've spent a lot of money on making sure our players are safe and everything that goes with it.

‘The problem is the blowing machine got affected by the alcohol gel on the coach, which meant when he (the driver) blew into it the coach stalled and wouldn't start for six hours.

‘We had to use staff cars, taxis, you name it to get to the ground.’

‘This week has certainly been sent to test us. That's the beauty of life, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.'

Ex-Pompey skipper Brett Pitman was on target in Swindon's 4-2 defeat of Burton.

Another former Fratton favourite, Steve Seddon, netted the only goal on his second AFC Wimbledon debut in their win at Fleetwood.

Other results

Doncaster Rovers 4-1 Bristol Rovers

Fleetwood Town 0-1 AFC Wimbledon

Gillingham 2-0 Blackpool

Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Shrewsbury