Sven under pressure as Brighton and Southampton lead the way

Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City may be the money men in the Championship, but that will count for nothing if they can’t get matters right on the pitch.

Last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Bristol City was their second in the space of a week, following Reading’s win at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, and was handed down by long term transfer target Nicky Maynard.

The Foxes have had three bids rejected for Maynard, who put the Robins into an early lead on five minutes and then netted the winner running clear on 66 minutes to beat Kasper Schmeichel, after David Nugent had levelled with a spectacular 25-yard strike.

The money spent during the close season saw Leicester start the season as early favourites for the Championship title, but following their loss to Reading they slipped down to 6/1, where they remain after this result.

While Leicester may be floundering, the early Championship pace setters involved last night continued with their fine form.

Last season’s League One champions, Brighton, notched an impressive 3-1 away win at Cardiff, with two goals from Ashley Barnes and a late strike from Will Hoskins maintaining the Seagulls’ 100% start to the season.

Gus Poyet’s team are 9/1 to finish as eventual Champions and are currently sitting in second place behind another newly promoted side with three wins from three; Southampton.

Derby County, sitting in third, also kept pace with their third win of the season last night, ending Blackpool’s winning streak with a 1-0 win at Bloomfield Road courtesy of Craig Bryson’s 69th minute finish.

Despite the promising early start for the Rams they are still viewed as outsiders for the title with odds of 25/1.

Also in action last night were Millwall and newly promoted Peterborough, with the Posh inflicting the second two goal comeback against the Lions in their three Championship outings already this season.