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 1 - 1 Peterborough
Bristol City came into this season with same ambitions, top half of the table and every chance for something more should be used. So far, they play over the expectations. At their home Ashton Gate, the Robins are brilliant with all three wins, over Crystal Palace 1-0, QPR 1-0 and Championship giants Middlesbrough 2-1. And despite not so good record on the road (two draws and defeat in three games and nine games without an away win in the league (two draws, seven defeats)), club show some signs of big potential and announce a battle for the biggest surprise of the season. The main reason for their good displays is young striker Nicky Maynard, who has netted five goals so far this season (from City’s seven). He functions very well with on-loan Costa Rican Alvaro Saborio in attacking line and these duo was meritorious for last good result, 1-1 in Coventry, Maynard – goal, Saborio – assist. City’s play was always characterized with iron defence and tight midfield, game “for a goal less”. Now, it’s got a new dimension and they could make some very good displays and results this season. Defenders Bradley Orr and Lewin Nyatanga have fully recovered from illness. Only missing will be striker John Akinde who is out for a month with an ankle injury. 
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.
