A luckless Leicester City's 2007/08 Championship campaign got off on the wrong foot as they went down 1-0 to newly-promoted Blackpool at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Keith Southern's 63rd minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides but the visitors also had goalkeeper Paul Rachubka to thank as he produced three great saves from substitute DJ Campbell as the game entered into the dying moments.
It was just not to be City's day as Mark de Vries was twice denied by the woodwork while Iain Hume and James Wesolowski also came agonisingly close.
The home side threw everything - including the kitchen sink - at the visitors in the second half but Simon Grayson's men stood firm to spoil the opening chapter in City's new era.
Both teams were quick out of the blocks, but it was the visitors who registered the first effort on target on seven minutes when Gary Taylor-Fletcher headed straight at keeper Paul Henderson.
A minute later a perfectly-timed tackle from Bruno N'Gotty thwarted an on-rushing Keigan Parker inside the penalty area before David Fox dragged his shot wide from the edge of the box.
The Foxes had appeals for a penalty turned down on 15 minutes when Iain Hume was sent tumbling in the box but referee Andy D'Urso waved away the protests.
Hume's attempted lob flew narrowly over the bar two minutes later after the Canadian international latched on to James Chambers' through ball.
Chambers did well to charge down Wes Hoolahan's attempted shot on 22 minutes then de Vries almost handed his side the lead a minute later.
He collected the ball 25-yards from goal before unleashing a thunderbolt which beat Rachubka all ends up but ricocheted back off the crossbar and away to safety.
N'Gotty just failed to connect with Radostin Kishishev's free-kick moments later then Shaun Newton saw his cross-cum-shot fall on to the top of Rachubka's netting in the 29th minute.
Henderson saved comfortably from Andy Morrell in the 35th minute.
At the other end, Joe Mattock did well to clear under pressure from Parker on 39 minutes then Rachubka tipped Hume's effort over the bar for a corner.
The Foxes could and should have taken the lead in the 41st minute but Wesolowski somehow put his close range header wide from Kishishev's teasing corner which deceived the keeper.
Blackpool hit back just before the break when Fox tried his luck from distance after Henderson had punched clear Taylor-Fletcher's hanging cross.
On the stroke of half-time Hume's header from Mattock's cross drifted agonisingly wide of the target with Rachubka stranded.
But it remained goalless at the break.
The hosts were the first to show after the interval when de Vries headed wide from Hume's hanging cross to the back post.
Then Gareth McAuley got down well to block Hoolahan's low shot on 49 minutes.
The Foxes were handed a let-off on 51 minutes when Hoolahan beat three players before seeing his shot from 18-yards graze the right-hand post with Henderson beaten.
City hit back and a goalmouth scramble was eventually hacked clear by Keith Southern then Kishishev made way for DJ Campbell in the 55th minute.
Campbell was immediately in the thick of the action but saw his shot cleared while Parker's effort flew well wide.
It was end to end at this stage of the contest and after Morrell had scuffed his shot at one end, Rachubka had to be at full stretch to gather de Vries' goalbound header.
Taylor-Fletcher fired high and wide on 59 minutes but it was the visitors who controversially took the lead in the 63rd minute.
With Chambers lying injured inside the penalty area, the Tangerines continued despite City's protests to put the ball out and with the ball bouncing around, Southern was on hand to stab it home off the underside of the bar for the opener.
Richard Stearman replaced Chambers before the re-start then Rachubka denied Hume an immediate reply when he palmed away his header.
Both sides made a change on 69 minutes with Jonathan Hayes replacing Mattock and Taylor-Fletcher making way for Claus Jorgensen.
Captain Stephen Clemence shot wide in the 75th minute.
Rachubka kept his side in front on 79 minutes with a brilliant double reaction save from Wesolowski and then Campbell.
John Hills replaced Hoolahan a minute later before Rachubka again kept the Foxes at bay with another great save from Campbell.
De Vries hit the post in the 83rd minute with Campbell seeing his follow-up shot saved again as Leicester continued to throw everything at their opponents.
Kaspars Gorkss came on for Morrell late on but he had little time to make an impact as his side completed a smash and grab victory.
City: Henderson, Chambers (Stearman 64), N'Gotty, McAuley, Mattock (Hayes 69), Wesolowski, Clemence (c), Kishishev (Campbell 55), Newton, Hume, De Vries. Subs not used: Nielsen, Fryatt.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Southern, Jackson (c), Evatt, Parker, Morrell (Gorkss 84), Hoolahan (Hills 80), Taylor-Fletcher (Jorgensen 69), Fox, Barker. Subs not used: Vernon, Burgess.
Yellow Cards
City: None
Blackpool: None
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)
Attendance: 26,650
