League round-up: Ollie sees new side ice Berg

Ian Holloway's appointment as Crystal Palace manager meant that four Championship clubs were under new management yesterday.

Holloway watched from the Selhurst Park stands as Palace went third with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers, themselves under new management in Henning Berg's first game in charge.

The former Blackpool manager Holloway, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at the south London club, said: "I just see this as too good an opportunity to turn down. People ask me why I have come here but the board sold me their dream about what they want for their club."

Berg was this week given an ultimatum of getting Blackburn back into the Premier League or face the sack after he agreed a three-year deal. "It is a fresh start," the Norwegian said. "It is a good squad we have here but there is room for a lot of improvement and we will do that."

Mick McCarthy's reign at Ipswich Town got off to a flying start, the Championship's bottom side arresting a run of 11 games without victory with a 1-0 win at Birmingham.

McCarthy said: "I gave the players a pat on the back but I also told them they should be embarrassed to be bottom of the league. If they'd worked like that, played like that, blocked like that, then I wouldn't be in this job."

Dougie Freedman marked his first game in charge of Bolton Wanderers with a 2-1 comeback victory over Championship leaders Cardiff City.

The former Watford boss, Sean Dyche, also made a winning start to life at his new club, Burnley, who beat Wolves 2-0.

In the FA Cup, Brian Laws' third spell in charge of Scunthorpe United began with a first-round defeat at Gillingham.

Non-league Chelmsford City shocked League One Colchester United, Paolo Di Canio's Swindon Town were humbled at home by Macclesfield, and Slough, the lowest-ranked side in the draw for round two, earned a replay with Mansfield. Harrogate Town, of the Conference North, beat Torquay.