Afternoon all. So, Blackburn Rovers and Cardiff City got us underway last night, but the main chunk of the teams in the Championship get their campaigns off and running this afternoon. Here, we will be taking a closer look at newly-promoted Brentford, who play host to London rivals Charlton Athletic at Griffin Park. Meaningful football is back!

Right then, team news. Let's start with taking a look at who has made the starting XI for hosting Brentford...

BRENTFORD XI: Button; McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Judge, Douglas, Pritchard; Odubajo, Gray, Dallas

BRENTFORD SUBS: Lee, Dean, Yennaris, Tebar, Smith, Moore, Proschwitz

There is a debut up front for Andre Gray, who arrived earlier this summer from Luton Town. Another new face, Moses Odubajo, has also been included as part of a three-pronged attack. Elsewhere, Alan Judge will start on the left flank, while former Tottenham Hotspur youngster David Button will keep goal.

And now for the visiting Addicks...

CHARLTON XI Henderson; Solly, Wiggins, Bikey, Ben-Haim; Gudmundson, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins; Vetokele, Tucudean

CHARLTON SUBS: Pope, Morrison, Moussa, Harriott, Fox, Piggott, Wilson

It's been a busy summer in terms of arrivals and departures at The Valley. Two new signings, Tal Ben-Haim and Andre Bikey start at the back, while debutants George Tucudean and Igor Vetokele lead the attack. There is no place for Franck Moussa, though, with the former Coventry City player having to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Charlton fans in great voice already in the away end. Good atmosphere brewing inside Griffin Park. COYA! (IL) #CAFCLive — Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) August 9, 2014

Here is what Bees boss Mark Warburton had to say about this game earlier in the week: "Charlton will be very organised. We have watched them many times and I am sure they have watched us many times as well.

"They like the pass the ball and they have some very talented players. They have experienced players for the division and it will be a real test for us on Saturday and we have to make sure that we are prepared for it and in the right frame of mind. We are looking forward to the challenge."

And here are the views of Warburton's opposite number, Bob Peeters: "I've seen them a few times," said Peeters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. "I watched them play Osasuna and, okay, they lost 4-0 but in the first half they were the better team. Then afterwards I heard that only three first-choice players were involved. They are a good side. It's their first game at home and they will be ready for it. I've told my players that we need to be on the top of our toes or they'll beat us."

Not long now until we are off and running. Both sets of teams are out on the pitch and the pre-match handshakes are underway.

KICKOFF! We are underway at a sunny Griffin Park. Can the hosts get off to a winning start upon their return to the second tier of English football? We shall see...

It would seem that former Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett is keeping up to date with how the Addicks are getting on this afternoon.

I am about to watch Brentford vs Charlton on #ssfootball in South Africa live #CAFC — Shaun Bartlett (@shaunbart9) August 9, 2014

CHANCE! It's been all Brentford so far and their first meaningful effort of the afternoon has been struck by Alex Pritchard, who tried his luck from 25 yards out. It had Stephen Henderson in the Charlton goal scampering, but the ball sailed just wide of the upright.

Tottenham loanee Pritchard really is pulling the strings in the Brentford midfield at present. His teammates are looking to give him the ball whenever the opportunity arises and the 21-year-old appears to be thriving with that responsibility.

While Charlton boss Peeters will be pleased with the way that his side are defending right now, he is bound to be slightly concerned by how much pressure they are being put under by the hosts. We've barely seen anything of the two new strikers.

SAVE! Another attempt at goal from Brentford and this time it's on target. Odubajo cuts in from the right and despite having options inside the area, he goes for goal. His effort is tame, though, and Henderson is able to gather with relative ease.

SAVE! All of a sudden Charlton spring into life and they really should be in front. Gudmundsson plays in new boy Tucudean and the Romanian is through on goal. However, Button makes himself big and denies the Charlton striker from close range. Nevertheless, it's at least a positive sign for Charlton, who have spent most of this game in their own half.

What a difference a few minutes makes! It's Charlton that are now doing all the running and in particular Vetokele. The striker is stretching the Brentford defence and it was his low cross that almost picked out Tucudean, but the danger was eventually cleared.

CHANCE! Vetokele again turns provider, this time for midfielder Johnnie Jackson. The 31-year-old goes for power from 20 yards out, but it costs him plenty of accuracy as the ball flies well wide of the target. The Brentford fans are growing a tad restless.

BOOKING! The first caution of this encounter goes the way of Charlton and Buyens. It's hard to argue against it as the midfielder ploughed into the lively Pritchard, who looked to advance forwards.

SAVE! Almost a slice of luck for Brentford as Judge's effort from distance takes a big deflection off Gudmundsoon. The ball appears to be heading for the back of the net, but at the final moment, Henderson adjusts his body in time to turn the effort wide of the target.

There will be two minutes of injury time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle for the break and although we haven't seen any goals, it's been an enjoyable 45 minutes of football in West London.

Warburton will be delighted with the way that his side started the encounter, but having failed to turn that domination into goals, they allowed Charlton to play their way back into the encounter and spent part of that half on the back-foot. Having said that, they did end the half in positive fashion, which buoyed the home crowd.

Charlton's official Twitter page sums up their performance so far rather nicely:

Charlton growing into the game after some early Brentford pressure. Vetokele, Solly and Wiggins our stand-outs so far. (IL) #CAFCLive

— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) August 9, 2014

HT Update: Brentford 0 Charlton 0 #cafc #CAFCLive http://t.co/JcaAAufOpt

— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) August 9, 2014

RESTART! The players are back with us and hosting Brentford get us back underway.

BRENTFORD SUB: The home side almost made an alteration at the break, with Tebar taking the place of debutant Odubajo.

SAVE! First effort on target in this second half goes the way of Charlton. Vetokele links well with his strike partner Tucudean, but his low shot from inside the penalty area is palmed to safety by a diving Button.

CROSSBAR! What a stop from Button, who dives full stretch to turn Vetokele's header against the bar. It was a great cross from Solly that created the chance initially. Charlton are starting to turn the screw here.

We've now had an hour at Griffin Park, but it doesn't feel like a 0-0. There has been plenty of chances and right now it's Charlton that look the more likely to break the deadlock.

CHARLTON SUBS: Moments after Gray forces a save from Henderson, Charlton make their first substitution of the afternoon. It's Harriott that comes on for Tucudean.

Well, that has been coming, it must be said. Jackson sends over an inswinging corner from the right for Vetokele, who gets ahead of an advancing Button at the near post to nod the ball into an unguarded net. That's not one that the Brentford keeper will want to see again anytime soon. It's Charlton that lead and on the balance of this second half, deservedly so.

BRENTFORD SUB: The Bees respond to having fallen behind by taking off Gray and replacing him with Nick Proschwitz, who recently arrived at Griffin Park from Hull City.

Someone has made an impression on the Charlton fans!

"Igor, Igor, Igor" is the cry from the sold-out away end here. The new man has caught impressed on his full league debut. (IL) #CAFCLive

— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) August 9, 2014

And former Charlton midfielder Shaun Newton is getting behind the team:

C'mon #cafc! Start the season with a win!!! @CAFCofficial — Shaun Newton (@SNewts7) August 9, 2014

CHANCE! A huge opportunity for Brentford, but perhaps it fell to the wrong player. Centre-back Craig, up for a corner, finds himself unmarked eight yards from goal, but with the target at his mercy, he volleys wildly over the crossbar. A huge groan sounds out from the home faithful.

Brentford are starting to apply large amounts of pressure as they seek an equalising goal. They've had three corners in quick succession, but the visitors have dealt with each of them.

BRENTFORD SUB: Final change of the afternoon for the home side and it's an attacking one. The impressive Pritchard is given a breather and he has been replaced by Tommy Smith.

CROSSBAR! How an earth are Charlton not 2-0 up? It should be game, set and the match. He beats an onrushing Button to the ball, but with an empty net in front of him, his effort from 25 yards crashes against the bar and is cleared to safety. Will that return to haunt the Addicks?

Brentford are level, albeit in controversial circumstances. Substitute Smith controls a rising ball inside the area with what the Charlton defence believe was his hand, but the referee waves play on. The Brentford striker takes full advantage of that, spinning quickly, before seeing his low shot deflect inside Henderson's near post. Griffin Park erupts.

CROSSBAR! Brentford go agonisingly close to stealing all three points. Judge lines up a free kick 25 yards from goal, which he bends around the Charlton wall. It looks as though it's going to be Henderson as well, but thankfully for Charlton, the ball cannons out of play off the bar. That's the third time that the ball has struck the woodwork today!

Brentford continue to push forward as three minutes of stoppage time is shown on the fourth official's board.

CHARLTON SUB: A late switch for the visiting Addicks as Moussa comes on for Cousins.

And there goes the final whistle. You'd have to say that on reflection, a draw was a fair outcome. It was certainly an entertaining encounter, although going forward, both sides look like they may lack a little bit of a cutting edge in the final third. Only time will tell, of course.

That is all we have time for today. Thanks for joining us and until next time, goodbye.