Micky started with a fair few new players, giving new signings Curtis, Thatcher, Scimeca, Gillespie and Ferdinand a starting place. Curtis had a nightmare start, losing the ball from kick off and nearly letting Saints in within seconds. He recovered it though, woke up, and had an ok game after that.

Sir Les Ferdinand immediately showed that he still has some class (despite being 76 last Birthday), winning every ball in the air, holding the ball up beautifully, turning, fancy footwork etc. And he caused Saints all sorts of problems for the first 10 minutes.

City fans got a dream start after only 5 minutes. Mike Riley,one of our favourite refs (Oh here we go, sarcasm already, and it's only week one - Ed) managed to make his first woeful decision of the day. A hoofed up ball saw Ferdinand leap miles into the air and totally mistime the jump. As Sir Les fell over, Mike Riley unbelievably pointed to the spot, saying Svensson had pushed Sir Les in the back! City fans couldn't quite believe it. a) Because we weren't convinced it was a penbut b) Riley had given us it! The Saints players protested, but of course to no avail.

Dickov stepped up and slotted home bottom right, easily, sending Paul Jones the wrong way, as the new Filbo roared. 1-0 after only 5 minutes.

It got better. 5 minutes later Scowy chased wildly after a ball that looked like it was certain to go out for a Saints goal kick in front of the Kop. The defender didn't bother to chase it. Somehow Scowy, not reknowned, let's face it, for being the nippiest of fellows, found an extra pace from somewhere (all those new signings perhaps? - Ed) and made the ball somehow.

He hooked it back in up in the air into the box, where Sir Les was in the thick of the action again. He climbed high above Svensson and Lundekvam to power a header in off the underside of the crossbar and sort of off Paul Jones. There was confusion as the Kop couldn't see if it had gone over the line or not as 3 players crashed to the ground in the way.

Sir Les and Lundekvam didn't get up and lay there as the City fans celebrated going 2-0 up after only 10 minutres.

"We are Top of the league" rang out as both players received extensive treatment after clashing heads. Lundekvam had to leave the field on a stretcher but Sir Les was harder and got up and managed the rest of the half. Not sure if he knew what his name was any more, but he carried on regardless. He was replaced at halftime by Brian Deane.

Strachan made a change at halftime too, taking off Anders Svensson and putting on new 3.5m signing Kevin Phillips. Well done for the announcement that the substitute for Sunderland was Phillips! His first touch was a free kick that went inches wide. Surely it was in the script for him to score on his debut for them?

City sat back on their lead, went to sleep and fell apart mid second half. Phillips was creating all sorts of problems along with Beattie now, and City were under the cosh. City fans in the Kop could do nothing but sit with grimaces on their faces as Phillips got the ball 30 yards out and sent a wonderful drive curling past the diving Walker into the top corner almost in slow motion in front of us.

Leicester tried to fight back and went down the other end to have a strong appeal for a second penalty turned down. Blatant hand ball? Not to Mr Riley, only to 30,000 Leicester fans!

But then it all went horribly wrong and the constant Saints pressure saw City messing up and not stopping Dodds getting a cross to Phillips right in front of goal. City fans were sick of screeching "Go to them" and "Close them down " and "Get into them" and "Away!!!" by now. It seemed endless. Phillips poked the ball at goal and City fans held their breaths. It hit the post..but there was bloody Beattie following up to put the rebound past Walker to our frustration.

It looked like Saints would go on to win this one. But suddenly Leicester woke up, and decided they'd try attacking again. They spent the last 10 minutes of the game trying to get the winner down at the Lineker end, with Jordan Stewart and Muzzy Izzet both coming close.

As Riley blew the final whistle it felt very much that Leicester had lost 2 points and it was pretty disappointing. Still, we didn't lose and there were some very positive signs, not least some passing and attacking football, Sir Les looking classy (when conscious) and Thatcher looking like a bit of a solid nutter who'd never shirk a tackle.

7th in the leage...still on for a European place up to now then!

Yellow Cards
Izzet (21) unsporting behaviour
Scimeca (46) unsporting behaviour
Dickov (53) unsporting behaviour
McCann (90) unsporting behaviour