City's former striker Mike Sheron and Richard Forsyth set up the 2-1 win.The most remarkable match was at Bramall Lane where Howard Kendall's Sheffield United trailed Trevor Francis's Birmingham City 2-0, pulled a goal back before half time and scored three in five second-half minutes to lead 4-2 before the Blues came back to grab a share of the spoils at 4-4.Plenty of goals elsewhere in the First Division as promoted Oxford thrashed Southend 5-0 and Ipswich beat Reading 5-2. If you get ripped by somebody's studs, there is something wrong."The Wolves manager Mark McGhee defended Roberts. "It was a 50-50 ball and a slippy surface, which I think caused the keeper to slide into Iwan He is not a player who would intentionally hurt someone Now and again I wish he would." Indeed. Roberts was involved in a collision in the 21st minute with the Bradford goalkeeper, Jonathan Gould, who was stretchered off and replaced by striker Carl Shutt. "It was a massive gash," an angry Kamara said.

Referee David Elleray agreed and Dicks thumped in the winner from the spot.There was just time for Francis Benali to be sent off for clattering Futre near the halfway line but Southampton, despite the nature of the goals, could have had few complaints on any count.. Steve Bull scored the only goal for Wolves against promoted Bradford City at Molineux to give them maximum points after two First Division games, but it was the Black Country side's other striker, Iwan Roberts, who attracted the attention of the visitors' manager Chris Kamara. "It was a studs-up challenge and the referee slightly disappointed me. Two minutes later though West Ham were finally level, Hughes' speculative effort from the left dropping tantalisingly over Beasant into the far corner.Redknapp then brought on his second Romanian, Ilie Dumitrescu, and it was the former Spurs man who went down in the penalty area 10 minutes from time, claiming a trip by Jason Dodd. But he could not crown his performance with the equaliser, scooping the ball over the bar.

West Ham slowly regained their composure and only a fine double save by Dave Beasant from Stan Lazaridis and Michael Hughes preserved Southampton's lead until the break.Ten minutes into the second half Futre turned on the magic again, this time twisting and turning in the penalty area to set up Lazaridis for a shot that was parried as far as Hughes, whose effort from the edge of the area was cleared off the line by Richard Dryden.Beasant then pulled off a great save to deny Florin Raducioiu, before Futre created a chance for himself on 70 minutes. All eyes may have been on England new boy Matt Le Tissier at the start but it was the Portuguese international Paulo Futre who stole this show from a below-par Le Tissier. Futre was clearly determined to show the home supporters what they had missed in the first half against Coventry on Wednesday night. The former Milan and Benfica player's first touch was greeted by a huge roar and for a quarter of an hour it seemed that West Ham, inspired by Futre, would tear their visitors apart.But having threatened without creating a clear-cut chance, West Ham fell behind after 17 minutes when Julian Dicks failed to control a simple pass from Slaven Bilic and Neil Heaney nipped in to chip Ludek Miklosko with ease. In a marvellous match Harry Redknapp's cosmopolitan assortment eventually prevailed, albeit thanks to a disputed penalty, but only Southampton fans would have begrudged them the victory.

A barrage of corners rained down on the Boro goalmouth, with one bundled effort being ruled out for a push on Miller. Forest's pressure finally told as Fleming and Steve Stone tangled on the Boro left.From the resulting free-kick, Pearce arrowed an unstoppable curling shot into the top corner. Now set on winning, Forest poured forth in numbers, with Stone missing a sitter from 10 yards, Ian Woan skidding a shot against a post, and Kevin Campbell being flagged offside before his header hit the net.. The good times are back at Upton Park and this time it is hard to believe they are not here to stay. But what they lacked in terms of cutting edge was offset by their calm possession football. The inter-passing among Juninhio, Barmby and Ravanelli was delightful, but the Italian desperately needed more support.Middlesbrough's goal, just after the restart, was deserved. Emerson had forced his way down the right and squirted the ball inside, where his compatriot Juninho hit a first-time shot inside Mark Crossley's left post.Forest immediately took this as their cue to encamp in the Boro half, and the game at last came to life.

An early cross had Curtis Fleming nearly fluffing a header back to the keeper Alan Miller, and when Allen won a free-kick, Stuart Pearce's drive flew across goal without a touch.Boro were even more barren in terms of chances; Ravanelli's wasting of a free header from Nick Barmby's corner was their best. Certainly neither defence looked in the mood to concede much space, and the hat-trick men of last Saturday, Ravanelli and Kevin Campbell, did little to disturb them.Forest's main problem seemed to be the absence of a playmaker in midfield. Chris Bart-Williams could never sum up the subtlety to unpick the Boro covering, and it was left to Forest's summer signing from Oxford, Chris Allen on the left wing, to createchances. Indeed, Forest might well have gone on to win the game, with Boro being saved late, first by the post, then by a goal-line clearance and finally by an offside flag. Neither team will be entirely satisfied with their performances, but the spirit showed by the rugged Boro defence in standing up to Forest's comeback, and the home team's refusal to settle for a point, will give both managers something to work on.The evidence of a fairly dire, occasionally tetchy first half suggested that both teams should be judged on their midweek defeats rather than their opening-day performances.