Southern gives Pool a perfect start

By Geoff Brown

Two of the sides promoted from League One, Bristol City and Blackpool, found life in the Coca-Cola Championship much to their liking, the Robins easing in via a 2-2 home draw with Queen's Park Rangers while Blackpool went one better, taking their fine form from the end of last season into this as Keith Southern's goal just after the hour won all three points at Leicester City.

The Seasiders' win was not without controversy. With a Leicester player down injured, Wes Hoolahan, fielded despite a dispute with Livingston over his registration (Fifa will adjudicate), forged on and crossed for Southern to score the only goal.

Bristol twice led Rangers but could not stay ahead for more than a minute or two on both occasions as Dexter Blackstock cancelled out Lee Johnson's opener and, in time added on, Scott Murray hit City's second only for Damion Stewart to level once again.

There were big first-day away wins for Coventry City and Crystal Palace, who won 4-1 at Barnsley and Southampton respectively. At St Mary's Stadium James Scowcroft scored a hat-trick and Clinton Morrison added the fourth as Palace thrashed the Saints. But the winning manager, Peter Taylor, was cautious and circumspect, while Saints boss George Burley promised some "wheeling and dealing".

Iain Dowie's rebuilt Sky Blues looked in good fettle at Oakwell. Leon McKenzie gave them an early lead, and after Brian Howard's penalty gave the Tykes first-half parity, Coventry ran away with it with goals by Kevin Kyle, Julian Gray and Michael Mifsud. "We wanted a good start and it's not an easy place to come to," Dowie said.

The first goal of the Championship season came from the penalty spot, Alan Lee on target for Ipswich Town after 105 seconds following a foul on Pablo Counago at Portman Road against Sheffield Wednesday. Gary Roberts, Lee again and Counago made it four before Leon Clarke got the Owls' consolation goal. It ended 4-1 "Kamikaze," fumed the Owls manager, Brian Laws.

Relegated Sheffield United led Colchester twice through James Beattie and Michael Tonge, but lack of concentration in defence undid them, Kevin McLeod and Clive Platt scoring to earn the U's a point. "Hopefully we'll learn from that and won't allow it again," Bryan Robson, the Blades boss, said.

Another relegated side, Watford, had a late penalty from Marlon King after Jordan Stewart had equalised Seyi George Olofinjana's goal to win 2-1 at Wolves.

Cardiff City, leaders for a good portion of last season before falling away badly, lost 1-0 at home to Stoke City, Ryan Shawcross scoring the goal. The Potters goalkeeper, Steve Simonsen, saved a Steve MacLean penalty. "We gifted them," Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, said.

Another side fancied to challenge, West Bromwich Albion, lost 2- 1 at Burnley. "A big, big win for us," the Clarets manager, Steve Cotterill, admitted.

Plymouth trailed at Hull after three minutes but goals by David Norris, Rory Fallon and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake saw Ian Holloway's side win 3-2. Preston North End started life after David Nugent with a 0- 0 home draw with Norwich City.

championship round-up

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