Posted on Aug 18
Leicester lived up to their status as favourites for promotion to the Premier League after cruising to a 2-0 win in their Championship opener against Peterborough on Saturday.
After a goalless first half at the King Power Stadium, defender Wes Morgan claimed the Foxes' first goal of the season when he rifled Ben Marshall's corner into the roof of the net.
The victory was sealed 15 minutes from time when substitute Andy King finished neatly inside the penalty area from new signing Jamie Vardy's assist.
Nigel Pearson's Leicester are joined at the top of the season's first league table by Blackpool and Burnley, who both registered 2-0 wins.
Thomas Ince helped Blackpool erase the heartbreak of last season's play-off final defeat against West Ham by bagging both goals against Millwall at the Den.
A header from forward Martin Paterson and a second-half goal from Charlie Austin fired Burnley to victory over local rivals Bolton, who were given a tough lesson about life in the Championship following last season's relegation.
Blackburn also struggled in their first game back in the second tier following demotion, throwing away the lead in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich at Portman Road.
Under-pressure Blackburn manager Steve Kean looked to be heading for a vital win after Colin Kazim-Richards scored in the 21st minute, but a Jason Lowe own-goal in the 83rd minute ensured the spoils were shared.
Leeds kicked off their own bid for promotion with a confidence-boosting 1-0 win against relegated Wolves in the day's early fixture.
Argentine striker Luciano Becchio's 18th-minute diving header at Elland Road sealed a deserved victory for United, whose manager Neil Warnock is looking for his eighth career promotion.
New Wolves boss Stale Solbakken started with most of the team which suffered relegation from the Premier League last season, but his team rarely threatened the home goal.
The highest scoring match of the day came at Selhurst Park, where Watford stunned Crystal Palace by claiming two late goals to run out 3-2 winners.
Palace were twice ahead, but Watford levelled in the 88th minute through on-loan Almen Abdi before fellow loanee Matej Vydra claimed all three points with a strike from the edge of the penalty area four minutes into injury time.
There was also late drama at Pride Park where newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday snatched a last-minute equaliser against Derby.
The Rams raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Nathan Tyson and Jake Buxton, but Wednesday pulled themselves back into contention through Chris O'Grady before defender Reda Johnson's header sent the 6,000 away fans into raptures.
Charlton, who were promoted alongside Wednesday last season, were the victims of a late leveller when Birmingham's giant striker Nikola Zigic scored in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to cancel out Leon Cort's 82nd minute goal.
Huddersfield, promoted via the League One play-offs, also suffered stoppage-time heartbreak when Cardiff captain Mark Hudson fired in a 91st winner in Friday's Championship curtain-raiser.
Elsewhere, relegation-favourites Barnsley surprised the pundits by beating Middlesbrough 1-0, while Hull and Nottingham Forest both got off to winning starts against Brighton and Bristol City.
Leicester lived up to their status as favourites for promotion to the Premier League after cruising to a 2-0 win in their Championship opener against Peterborough. Defender Wes Morgan, pictured in action in March 2012, claimed the Foxes' first goal of the season.
Leicester lived up to their status as favourites for promotion to the Premier League after cruising to a 2-0 win in their Championship opener against Peterborough. Defender Wes Morgan, pictured in action in March 2012, claimed the Foxes' first goal of the season.