Classic Encounter: City Begin Life On Filbert Way With Watford Success
With the Foxes due to entertain the Hornets at King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday (7:30pm GMT kick-off), LCFC.com takes a look back to a classic clash with our opponents...
Leicester City 2 Watford 0
First Division
Saturday 10 August, 2002
King Power Stadium
Brian Deane was the first man to score competitive goals at Walkers Stadium, now King Power Stadium, as Leicester City got off to a flier at their new home at the start of the 2002/03 season.
After spending 111 years at Filbert Street, the Foxes' final season at their old home ended with relegation from the Premier League, but their new surroundings provided reason for optimism.
A crowd of over 31,000 fans packed into the stadium to see Micky Adams' men commence their bid to return to the top flight at the first time of asking against Ray Lewington's visitors.
The Blue Army would have to wait until two minutes into the second half to see City take the lead as Deane latched onto the end of a James Scowcroft cross and nodded past Alec Chamberlain.
Eight minutes later, the former Sheffield United striker escaped the Watford defence to find the net again, after another inventive Scowcroft pass, to seal all three points for the promotion-chasing Foxes.
It proved to be the first of six successive home victories for Leicester, while also being the first act in a campaign which ended with Adams' men finishing second and returning to the Premier League.
City: Walker, Elliott (McKinlay 20'), Sinclair, Taggart, Marshall, Rodgers, Izzet, Summerbee, Scowcroft, Deane (Benjamin 81'), Dickov (Stewart 80')
Goals: Deane 47', 55'