The Foxes occupy shameful 22nd place (third from the bottom) and after a run of embarrassing results, Paolo Sousa got fired. The thing is, the team is almost the same from previous season (finished 5th and lost after play-off penalties against Cardiff), but team was paying prices to Sousa’s attempts to implement his defensive philosophy of football that was working perfectly at his time at Swansea. Also, some of his management decisions didn’t help, like to leave top goal scorer and club’s mascot, Matty Fryatt, on the bench. It’s not a new boss syndrome, in the first game without Sousa players showed a new face and played like without the weight on the shoulders (Scunthorpe at home 3-1). I’m not a keen of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s admirer, but his arriving just confirms club’s ambition that his owner is repeating these days – Premier League. Erikson has already signed two very good players, extra talented Kyle Naughton from Spurs (should even start the game) and Villa’s defender Curtis Davies. Striker Dany N`Guessan is only missing.
Hull are facing a rough times in the second tier. And while at home things don’t look so bad (haven’t conceded a goal in all five games, scored just two tough), their record on the road again looks shameful. In previous season in Premier they finished without a win (6 draws and 12 scored goals in 19 games) and not too much have been changed. One win (very lucky one at Norwich) and four defeats with goal difference 3-13! I predicted at the start that lot will depend from Jimmy Bullard (key of their key players). He has an injury and will face a late fitness test for today’s game, but even when he was fit didn’t look too much interested for the game. Their ambition is return to Premiership, but that doesn’t sound likely for the near future.
Leicester will start climbing on the table (in fact, started already), they possess more than decent amount of quality and will finish somewhere in top eight – I’d say. Sousa’s era has been finished and players are eager to show their full potential. Opponent is very good for that purpose. Home win.
Bet: Leicester -0.5
Odd: 1.90 Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10
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Leicester also are in debut season, but their record and ambitions are opposite. They have made a very good run of results that saw them at the third place. Team is well balanced with excellent Matty Fryatt in attack (scored 9 league goals so far). They’re also in excellent physical condition. As the game comes near to the end, Foxes establish domination in game. Most of their games are decided in the second half and they have seven wins with one goal margin. After shocking home defeat against WBA (1-2), Leicester bounced back against Plymouth. They were dominating all of the game, but lacked in creating a chances and scored deep in additional time. And that’s their main problem, playing against the teams that defend with all players. Their big advantage today will be hosts’ intention to attack as Scunthorpe don’t know differently. Skipper midfielder Matt Oakley is back after a suspension and could replace Andy King. Defender Aleksandar Tunchev and midfielder Stephen Clemence remain the only absentees with long-term injuries.
The Foxes, last term's League One champions, are eighth in the table and notice more than decent start in the second tier. Team is well balanced, but also possess few very quality individuals. Goalkeeper Christopher Weale, creative link in midfield Richie Wellence and excellent striker Matty Fryatt are the spine of this team. Under the guidance of current boss Nigel Pearson, team is recognizable by the fighting spirit and excellent physical condition that usually brings them advantage as the game comes to end. All these factors make from Leicester a serious contender for a play-off spot. In the last round, they defeated league giants Middlesbrough at the Riverside 1-0, got a first away win and boosted their confidence. Another success would launch them into play-off zone. Additional good news came from club’s medical service. Richie Wellens is available after missing the midweek win through illness, while Matt Fryatt is also fit despite limping off at Boro. Only missing is defender Alexsander Tunchev who will be out for several weeks after knee surgery. The Foxes have avoided defeat in eight of their last 10 visits to Coventry.
Leicester made an impressive start in their returning season in Championship and already announced a battle for a play-off spot. Only defeat in seven opening games came from the most expensive club in the league – Newcastle (0-1 on the road). Players gathered a large amount of self confidence, being absolutely dominant in League One last season and at start of recent campaign in second tier, and already managed to underestimate somebody. In previous round against Peterborough at Walkers, visitors were absolutely dominant in the first half and took a lead. Matty Fryatt equalized from penalty kick in second part, couple chances were created, but only 1-1 draw at the end. Pale display didn’t make serious impact to dressing room atmosphere and Foxes go to Vicarage Road, hunting down their first away win. I think their displays so far warranted another good game and their hope for good result against Hornets has a reliable coverage. Experienced defender Wayne Brown has a shoulder injury and will be assessed before the Foxes line-up is decided, while another defender, Bulgarian Aleksandar Tunchev, needed 10 stitches in a head wound but he is expected to be passed fit. The Foxes have won five and drawn three of their last nine games at Vicarage Road.
Leicester 1 - 1 Peterborough
Oppositely from tonight’s hosts, Peterboroug find it’s very difficult to collect points in the second tier, noticing their worst start to a season for 21 years. Three draws and same defeats from opening six rounds, with six goals scored and big ten conceded (just Scunthorpe have managed to concede more – 13). Strategy for backing on own forces hasn’t brought anything good, so far. Squad hasn’t been strengthened during the transfer market and visitors will face a tough season to avoid return to League One. However, yet they can consider themselves unlucky following a series of some good displays that have gone unrewarded. Last one was in Saturday’s draw (1-1) against favored QPR on the road. Lads showed some courage, attacked the hosts and took a lead in the opening stage of the game. Conceded a goal later, but was closer to victory. One their goal was cancelled in stoppage time and even QPR’s boss Jim Magilton said that his side were lucky to avoid defeat. Now Posh have to turn good displays in collecting the points. Well, Walkers Stadium is not the best place for improving the points balance, but maybe their luck will change. Boss Darren Ferguson will again be without his key defender Charlie Lee as his ankle injury has not yet healed and striker Ben Wright is also out.
After the previous season where club avoided relegation at the last day, new one started in the same manner. Club’s owner Patrick Cryne gave the last chance to manager Simon Davey, but squad stayed nearly the same, without any significant transfers. The only signing worth of mentioning is striker Onome Sodje from York City. In the opening game, Barnsley noticed a promising draw on the road, against Sheffield Wednesday (2-2). But, then came two shocking home defeats without a goal scored. First Coventry City took all three points (0-2), then Preston North End did the same (0-3). Against Preston, Barnsley conceded two goals in the first half and through the major part of the game weren’t the equal opponent on the pitch. One point from three games was enough to activate alarms at Oakwell and Davey becomes the main favorite to be first manager in Championship who will lose the job. Only goods news come from medical, striker Iain Hume (who has a key role in attack) is recovered and could play against his former club, while defender Rob Kozluk is available again after serving a ban. The Tykes also are hoping to get international clearance for Icelandic midfielder Emil Hallfredsson in time for him to play. In last six encounters of these opponents, Barnsley have noticed all six defeats. 
In the previous season, Swansea had a dream debut in Championship, playing much over the expectations and at the end almost caught a play-off, finishing at 8th place. Now have to cope with the “second season” syndrome when teams usually lost all enthusiasm that playing in higher league provokes and the majority of pre-season opinion is that they will struggle to replicate last season's results. Beside that, Welsh side suffered three significant losses over the summer, with maybe the best manager in Championship last year, Roberto Martinez and top scorer Jason Scotland both moving to Wigan. Excellent midfielder Jordi Gomez, little later also joined Wigan. The biggest signing is ex QPR manager Paulo Sousa. From the same club came midfielder Jordi Lopez, striker Stephen Dobbie came from Queen of the South, while last season on loan winger Nathan Dyer signed a permanent deal. Sousa has some injury concerns for the season opener. Winger Tom Butler is out following hernia surgery, as are midfielders Ferrie Bodde (knee) and excellent Darren Pratley (shoulder). The Welsh club have lost their opening league fixture in each of the last three years.
