SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON asked a TV reporter for Steve McClaren's phone number before this opening-day romp.

But judging by this performance, Notts County won't need any expensive imports from McClaren's Dutch League . . . or anywhere else.

The Magpies' new director of football got off to the best possible start at Meadow Lane as County crushed a hapless Bradford side.

McClaren, Sven's former assistant when he was boss of England, may be a useful contact as coach of Dutch club Twente Enschede.

But County manager Ian McParland already looks to have a team good enough to win League Two.

As Eriksson looked on from the directors' box, Lee Hughes emerged as an instant hero - marking his debut with a hat- trick in County's first opening- day victory for nine years.

Hughes' two goals in four minutes shortly before half-time flattened Bradford.

And after he converted a 54th-minute penalty - following Matt Clarke's foul on Luke Rodgers - Hughes went off to a standing ovation.

Ben Davies had headed the opener for County and full-back Brendan Moloney completed the mauling.

McParland said: "Hughes is a natural goalscorer and he's already making a massive difference to us.

"We went 11 games undefeated in the early part of last season but drew nine of them because we couldn't score goals.

"Hopefully that won't be a problem this time and if we get a striker that scores 20 plus goals in a season we have a good chance.

"It's a fantastic start for us and some of our football is a treat to watch. But I hope people don't expect it to be like that every week because it isn't that easy."

Sad City did not know what had hit them as they got caught up in a wave of Svenmania and boss Stuart McCall said: "The only positive I can take is that we've only lost three points.

"We didn't defend well enough and nobody left the field with any credit. The performance was simply undefensible but what matters now is how we react to us."

This time last year City were the big spenders of League Two and hot favourites for promotion. But how times have changed.

That is now a role firmly filled by County following their summer takeover by a Middle East consortium

And McParland added: "There's a lot of pressure on us with high expectations but the players were certainly lifted by the crowd for this game."

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CREWE 1, DAGENHAM 2

CREWE chief Gudjon Thordarson laid into his players after visitors Dagenham gave Alex a tough start to life back in the bottom tier.

Crewe sub Byron Moore struck in the 71st minute to cancel out Jon Nurse's first-half wonder-strike.

But Paul Benson capitalised on some dodgy defending just two minutes later and the Daggers went home with all three points.

Thordarson said: "I have kept a cool head, but make no mistake, the players know I am not happy and I won't settle for that."

Dagenham boss John Still said: "I knew we had organisation, fitness and decent players in us, but I didn't expect them to do so well today."

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MORECAMBE 2, HEREFORD 2

TWO-GOAL hero Marc Pugh was delighted after his last-minute strike rescued a point for Hereford.

Winger Pugh said: "We grafted the result out in the end, although we were not at our best.

"We can improve on that and a point at Morecambe is something you would take all day long."

Pugh fired Bulls ahead on 39 minutes before Craig Stanley and Stuart Drummond hit back either side of the break.

Shrimps' Stanley said: "We dominated and should have won. They got out of it very luckily."

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ALDERSHOT 3, DARLINGTON 1

COLIN TODD saw his new-look Darlington side demolished.

Marvin Morgan fired Shots into a fourth-minute lead, keeper Dave Knight fluffed Ben Harding's free-kick to gift Andy Sandell No 2 and Louis Soares got the home side's third just after the break.

Sub David Dowson hit a late consolation for Darlo.

Boss Todd confessed: "We were better towards the end, but we have an awful lot to do."

Shots boss Gary Waddock said: "I was delighted with our work rate but we could have scored more."

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LINCOLN 1, BARNET 0

DEFENDER Janos Kovacs hit the only goal to grab Lincoln's win.

The Hungarian netted with a close-range shot after his 59th-minute header came back off a post.

And Kovacs also shackled Barnet striker Paul Furlong.

Imps chief Peter Jackson said: "Kovacs was immense. He gave a real strong performance."

Bees bossed the first half but were denied by some excellent saves by Lincoln keeper Rob Burch.

Barnet manager Ian Hendon admitted: "We were disappointed not to be in front at half-time."

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PORT VALE 1, ROCHDALE 1

KEITH HILL gave rookie ref Jock Waugh both barrels after Dale were denied a win by Marc Richards' 74th-minute penalty.

Joe Thompson's header put Rochdale ahead on 66 minutes before Waugh - making his League debut - pointed to the spot after judging Nathan Stanton had handled.

Boss Hill said: "The penalty was criminal and we feel robbed.

"We dominated every aspect of the game - we came with a plan and it was working but it's soul-destroying for players when you are on the end of a decision like that."

But new Vale boss Micky Adams backed Waugh to the hilt and was thrilled with a point.

He said: "There was no doubt for me that it was a penalty and it's a great point for us - Rochdale are going to be a threat."

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SHREWSBURY 3, BURTON ALB 1

SHREWSBURY spoilt the party for Football League new boys Burton.

More than 1,000 Brewers fans made the trip to cheer on the Blue Square Premier champions.

But Shrewsbury took just 10 minutes to shake off the agony of losing last season's play-off final as Jake Robinson put them ahead.

And Dave Hibbert buried a header to make it 2-0 four minutes into the second half.

Sub Greg Pearson pulled a goal back for Burton in the 61st minute but Joss Labadie's free-kick made it 3-1 eight minutes from time.

Shrews boss Paul Simpson said: "We couldn't have asked for any more from Dave Hibbert after he came in at the last minute.

"He ran his socks off and scored a fantastic goal."

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NORTHAMPTON 0, MACC'FIELD 0

BOSS Keith Alexander saw his Macclesfield side hit the woodwork twice in two minutes - but was still happy with a draw.

Shaun Brisley headed against the bar in the first half and Colin Daniel hit a post after a quick break by Emile Sinclair.

Alexander said: "I'm delighted to get a point - it took us six games to get one last season.

"This is a difficult place to come so early in the season and we've had a lot of changes in the summer."

Northampton had their moments and could have won it in stoppage time when sub Steve Guinan missed from close range.

Cobblers boss Stuart Gray said: "I'm disappointed not to have got off to a winning start but we've got to get used to teams coming here and frustrating us."

Burton coach Paul Peschisolido insisted: "We are going to get better and better. I saw enough positives to not worry."

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ROTHERHAM1, ACCRINGTON 0

PAUL WARNE rolled back the years to hit Rotherham's winner.

Sub Warne, 36, kicked off his second spell with Millers by stabbing in an 87th-minute goal.

Boss Mark Robins said: "I changed it at half-time and brought Paul on - and he came up with the goal."

Keeper Andy Warrington kept the visitors at bay with a couple of fine saves.

Frustrated Stanley manager John Coleman said: "We defended for 87 minutes but you have to defend for the whole 90."

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CHELTENHAM 2, GRIMSBY 1

MARTIN ALLEN saluted golden oldie striker Barry Hayles after his winner for Cheltenham.

Robins trailed to Barry Conlon's 39th-minute goal for Grimsby.

But Hayles, 37, made an instant impact after the interval, setting-up Lee Ridley to curl home his first goal for the club 11 minutes after the break.

And Hayles swept in a close- range clincher on 68 minutes.

Boss Allen said: "Barry lifted everyone. He's got that self-belief and hunger - and he still trains like a 17 year old."

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BURY 0, BOURNEMOUTH 3

DEJECTED Alan Knill described Bury's performance as a "wake-up call" after they crashed at home.

Brett Pitman and Steve Fletcher put Bournemouth two-up at the break and Mark Molesley netted the visitors' third five minutes after half-time.

Boss Knill said: "I'm just a bit shell-shocked. It's difficult to take any positives from that - it's definitely a wake-up call for us."

Happy Cherries chief Eddie Howe said: "If someone offered me that before the match, I'd have snatched their hands off."

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TORQUAY 2, CHESTERFIELD 0

TORQUAY boss Paul Buckle saw his side sink Chesterfield - then tipped Spireites to go up.

Scott Rendell put Gulls in front on 15 minutes and defender Lee Mansell netted their second 19 minutes from time.

Buckle said: "They put us under a lot of pressure but we had two chances and took them.

"We were superb against a team that I fancy for promotion."

Frustrated Chesterfield boss John Sheridan insisted: "We dominated throughout and were desperately unlucky to come away losers.

"I could have asked no more from them and I will take an awful lot from this game. The only thing that was wrong was the result."

• BRADFORD 0, PORT VALE 0

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