Big-spending Leicester got off to a winning start in their promotion challenge, with Lee Peltier's goal earning victory at Coventry.

The Foxes saw Darius Vassell dismissed early on for a tackle on Richard Keogh before Coventry's Carl Baker was sent off for a challenge on Richie Wellens.

The visitors were denied a goal when David Nugent's header hit the post before Peltier nodded Leicester ahead.

Coventry struggled to create chances as the assured Foxes closed out the game.

RADIO 5 LIVE ANALYST MICHAEL GRAY

“There was only really one side in it when they came out for the second half. Leicester were the ones who controlled the game. They got themselves in front and then they started passing the ball around to make Coventry feel really tired. Coventry got so far up the pitch but never really looked like scoring”

Leicester signed 10 players in pre-season and seven of them - including former Huddersfield man Peltier - started the match as manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's side looked to justify their tag as one of the favourites for promotion.

But the adrenalin of the new season appeared to overwhelm striker Vassell, who gave referee Darren Deadman little choice but to brandish the first red card of the 2011-2012 Championship season for a studs-first challenge on Keogh on the halfway line.

The dismissal allowed Coventry to push further up the pitch, while there were signs of dissent within the Foxes ranks and a disjointed air about the visitors' play.

Coventry were patient and probing, with the home side almost taking advantage of their extra man when David Bell's strike was tipped over by keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Sky Blues had a grip of the game but Baker's red card after 39 minutes evened out the numbers and changed the complexion of the match.

Eriksson's side became more of a force and Nugent got on the end of a Neil Danns cross, only for his effort to ricochet off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of keeper Joe Murphy.

Nugent should have scored when he was found by a ball from left-back Paul Konchesky but the forward sent an eight-yard shot the wrong side of the post.

His blushes were saved when a right-wing cross from Wellens was expertly headed in after 52 minutes by Peltier.

Lineup, Bookings (8) & Substitutions (4)

Coventry City

  • 01 Murphy
  • 02 Keogh
  • 03 Hussey Booked
  • 15 Cranie
  • 31 Christie (Wood - 78' )
  • 04 Clingan
  • 07 Bell
  • 08 Baker Dismissed
  • 34 Bigirimana
  • 09 Jutkiewicz
  • 11 McSheffrey (O'Donovan - 79' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 13 Dunn
  • 06 McPake
  • 24 Wood
  • 32 Thomas
  • 19 O'Donovan

Leicester City

  • 01 Schmeichel
  • 02 Peltier (King - 60' )
  • 03 Konchesky
  • 05 Mills Booked
  • 06 Bamba
  • 19 Wellens Booked
  • 22 Abe
  • 23 Danns
  • 26 Fernandes Booked
  • 13 Vassell Dismissed
  • 35 Nugent (Gallagher - 78' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 21 Weale
  • 16 St. Ledger
  • 10 King
  • 11 Dyer
  • 07 Gallagher
Ref: Deadman
Att: 21,102

Match Stats

Shots

11 7

On target

7 3

Corners

4 4

Fouls

12 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:36 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +4:40

Richie Wellens decides to take the corner short.

90:00 +4:32

Yuki Abe produces a cross, blocked by Sammy Clingan.

90:00 +2:58 Booking

Booking Matt Mills is booked.

90:00 +2:45 Booking

Booking Roy O'Donovan booked for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:21

Chris Hussey produces a cross, free kick awarded for a foul by Roy O'Donovan on Kasper Schmeichel. Direct free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

90:00 +1:44

Sammy Clingan delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

90:00 +1:44 Booking

Booking The referee books Gelson Fernandes for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +1:13

Gelson Fernandes challenges Richard Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick.

88:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matt Mills on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Sammy Clingan crosses the ball in from the free kick.

86:39

The ball is swung over by Paul Gallagher, save made by Joe Murphy.

86:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy King by David Bell. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.

84:59

The offside flag is raised against Paul Gallagher. Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

81:04

Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.

81:04 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Paul Gallagher for time wasting.

80:56

The referee gives a free kick against Paul Gallagher for handball.

79:45

Joe Murphy takes the free kick.

79:45 Booking

Booking Richie Wellens is cautioned.

79:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Richie Wellens on Gael Bigirimana.

77:23

Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.

77:23 Substitution

Substitution (Coventry) makes a substitution, with Roy O'Donovan coming on for Gary McSheffrey.

77:23 Substitution

Substitution Cyrus Christie goes off and Richard Wood comes on.

77:23 Substitution

Substitution Paul Gallagher joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Nugent.

77:23

Souleymane Bamba fouled by Lukas Jutkiewicz, the ref awards a free kick.

76:54

Andy King takes a shot. Joe Murphy makes a save.

74:50

Neil Danns takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Sammy Clingan manages to make a clearance.

74:03

Gary McSheffrey has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

73:34

The referee blows for offside against Andy King. Richard Keogh takes the free kick.

72:45

A cross is delivered by Chris Hussey, Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.

72:29

The assistant referee flags for offside against David Nugent. Free kick taken by Martin Cranie.

72:10

Foul by Gael Bigirimana on Richie Wellens, free kick awarded. Richie Wellens takes the free kick.

71:40

Sammy Clingan takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.

71:22

Short corner worked by Gary McSheffrey.

70:54

Cyrus Christie takes a shot. Neil Danns gets a block in.

69:30

Chris Hussey produces a cross. The referee blows for offside against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Kasper Schmeichel takes the indirect free kick.

69:02

Shot by Gelson Fernandes from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

68:54

Centre by Matt Mills, clearance by Cyrus Christie.

68:06

A cross is delivered by Cyrus Christie.

67:41

Gael Bigirimana takes a shot. Blocked by Souleymane Bamba.

64:46

Richie Wellens restarts play with the free kick.

64:46 Booking

Booking Chris Hussey is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

64:35

Chris Hussey challenges Yuki Abe unfairly and gives away a free kick.

63:40

Gael Bigirimana delivers the ball, clearance made by Yuki Abe.

63:28

Centre by Cyrus Christie, Gelson Fernandes gets a block in.

61:53

Floated corner taken right-footed by Neil Danns from the right by-line, clearance by Cyrus Christie.

61:17

Richard Keogh concedes a free kick for a foul on David Nugent. Free kick taken by Richie Wellens.

60:34

Lukas Jutkiewicz is ruled offside. Kasper Schmeichel takes the free kick.

59:42 Substitution

Substitution (Leicester) makes a substitution, with Andy King coming on for Lee Peltier.

56:58

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.

56:45

The ball is crossed by Lee Peltier, Martin Cranie gets a block in.

55:57

The ball is crossed by Souleymane Bamba, save by Joe Murphy.

51:53

Richie Wellens provided the assist for the goal.

51:53 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Peltier - Coventry 0 - 1 Leicester Lee Peltier finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the box. Coventry 0-1 Leicester.

51:13

Handball by Chris Hussey. The ball is swung over by Richie Wellens,

50:17

Paul Konchesky sends in a cross, Effort on goal by David Nugent from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

49:35

Centre by Richie Wellens.

48:17

Paul Konchesky concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary McSheffrey. Gael Bigirimana takes the free kick.

46:55

Sammy Clingan takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, David Nugent manages to make a clearance.

45:47

Gary McSheffrey crosses the ball, blocked by Paul Konchesky.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +3:26 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +2:45

Richie Wellens fouled by Cyrus Christie, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Paul Konchesky.

45:00 +1:47

Richie Wellens has an effort at goal. Blocked by Gael Bigirimana.

45:00 +1:01

Corner taken right-footed by Neil Danns, Richard Keogh makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:44

Yuki Abe takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Cranie.

45:00 +0:17

The ball is crossed by Paul Konchesky.

43:40

Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

42:32

The ball is crossed by Neil Danns, Header from inside the area by David Nugent strikes the post.

42:20

The ball is delivered by Richie Wellens.

40:26

Chris Hussey fouled by Lee Peltier, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

38:18

Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

38:18 Dismissal

Dismissal Carl Baker shown a red card.

38:12

Carl Baker concedes a free kick for a foul on Richie Wellens.

37:21

Unfair challenge on David Nugent by Martin Cranie results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Paul Konchesky from right channel, save by Joe Murphy.

37:00

Cyrus Christie produces a cross.

36:28

Corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan from the left by-line, Gelson Fernandes makes a clearance.

36:05

David Bell takes a shot. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.

34:51

The ball is swung over by Richie Wellens, clearance made by Richard Keogh.

33:14

Foul by Gary McSheffrey on Paul Konchesky, free kick awarded. Lee Peltier takes the direct free kick.

32:25

The ball is sent over by Cyrus Christie, Header by Gary McSheffrey from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

31:17

Neil Danns is caught offside. Joe Murphy takes the indirect free kick.

29:52

A cross is delivered by Sammy Clingan.

28:44

Souleymane Bamba gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Sammy Clingan restarts play with the free kick.

28:14

A cross is delivered by David Bell.

27:25

A cross is delivered by Cyrus Christie, Souleymane Bamba makes a clearance.

26:11

Carl Baker produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

25:48

Foul by Neil Danns on Sammy Clingan, free kick awarded. Sammy Clingan takes the direct free kick.

25:05

David Nugent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Keogh. Free kick taken by Joe Murphy.

24:12

Gael Bigirimana crosses the ball. The official flags Gary McSheffrey offside. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

23:25

The ball is crossed by Gelson Fernandes.

21:32

Centre by David Nugent.

19:22

The ball is sent over by Chris Hussey.

18:53

Short corner worked by David Bell.

18:04

Unfair challenge on Cyrus Christie by Paul Konchesky results in a free kick. Sammy Clingan delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.

17:07

David Bell concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Peltier. Kasper Schmeichel takes the free kick.

14:40

Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a cross.

13:54

David Bell takes a shot. Matt Mills gets a block in.

12:58

David Nugent fouled by Cyrus Christie, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Souleymane Bamba.

12:17

Carl Baker sends in a cross.

10:15

Free kick taken by Sammy Clingan.

10:15 Dismissal

Dismissal Darius Vassell is shown a red card.

10:06

Darius Vassell concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Keogh.

9:10

Foul by Gelson Fernandes on Sammy Clingan, free kick awarded. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.

8:53

Neil Danns sends in a cross, save by Joe Murphy.

5:11

Unfair challenge on Cyrus Christie by Richie Wellens results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gael Bigirimana.

3:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Souleymane Bamba. Gael Bigirimana takes the free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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