Wimbledon 3 Birmingham 1
The first day of a new season is usually high on expectation. But the mood at Selhurst Park was as black as the thousands of balloons unleashed by militant home supporters as the Wimbledon players emerged.
The scoreline was almost incidental, despite both Dons and Birmingham viewing this season as a stepping stone to the Premiership.
As far as Wimbledon supporters are concerned, the bigger issue is the club's proposed move to Milton Keynes for the 2003-04 season.
They favour a return to the London borough of Merton, from where they came. Yesterday, a sizeable proportion of the 9,142 crowd made their feelings known in no uncertain manner.
Posters and leaflets, opposing Dons chairman Charles Koppel and his plans, were distributed. Petitions were circulated, which former players such as Dave Beasant, Lawrie Sanchez, Chris Perry and Dickie Guy, had signed.
The balloons, resembling a swarm of large flies as they cascaded down to the terraces and pitch, represented the dark cloud hanging over the club.
After an impeccably observed minute's silence for Aaron Flahavan, the Portsmouth goalkeeper killed in a car crash last week, the home fans chanted for Koppel's head and held up banners stating: 'MK - No Way.'
At least the performance of their team gave the fans something to cheer, with Wimbledon carrying on from last season, when they lost just once in their final 23 games.
Neil Shipperley and David Connolly scored on their debuts in a comfortable win over a team who only lost out in the play-offs three months ago.
It was the least the Dons deserved on an afternoon in which, save for the odd City attack, they dominated. Wimbledon's first-half pressure paid off seconds before the break when Kevin Cooper's low cross presented Shipperley, signed from Barnsley, with a simple chance.
Connolly, a free transfer from Feyenoord, added a second five minutes after the break. David Nielsen robbed Martin Grainger and passed the ball across the face of the six-yard box for the new boy to smash into the empty net.
Connolly was in the thick of the action again for Wimbledon's third, when his header from Alan Kimble's free-kick smashed into Darren Purse's face and was re-directed into the corner of the net.
The travelling supporters were at least treated to a last-gasp Birmingham goal, courtesy of a spectacular volley from Bryan Hughes.
The omens are good, then, on the pitch for Wimbledon. Off it, however, it looks like a long, ill-natured season.
- NEWS