Leicester fans still have nightmares about the last time they saw Kermorgant with the ball at his feet 12 yards out – his ’dinked’ spot-kick went horribly wrong as they lost the 2010 play-off semi-final on penalties to Cardiff.

But the French striker made no mistake this time when the ball fell to him in front of goal following a corner, confidently lashing it home before raising a finger to his lips in celebration.

Substitute Andy King pulled one back in the second half but Leicester could not find an equaliser to make it a miserable 49th birthday for manager Nigel Pearson.

Charlton had paraded new signing Ricardo Fuller at half-time.

New signing Rodri marked a stunning debut with a goal as Sheffield Wednesday defeated Birmingham 3-2 at Hillsborough.

After Reda Johnson capitalised on a handling error from England goalkeeper Jack Butland to head the opener, the tricky forward – signed on loan from Barcelona B yesterday – rewarded manager David Jones for giving him his first start with a well-taken finish.

Nikola Zigic pulled one back for Birmingham but Jermaine Johnson made sure of the points with Wednesday’s third before Marlon King’s last-gasp penalty.

Much-improved Wolves got their season going with a 3-1 victory over Barnsley.

Stale Solbakken celebrated his first league win at the helm and Wolves’ first on home soil in 2012 after Stephen Ward broke the deadlock with only eight minutes on the clock before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake added a second just after the hour mark and Dave Edwards headed a third.

Tomasz Cywka pulled one back for the Tykes but it was Wolves’ night as they recorded a seventh successive home win over their South Yorkshire visitors.

Luke Williams sealed a first npower Championship win of the season for Middlesbrough with a thunderous late goal to down Burnley 3-2.

The Clarets were on course to continue their 100% start to the season when Charlie Austin headed home the opener shortly before the break.

But Nicky Bailey equalised with a screamer from distance just one minute later, before Adam Reach lashed in a thunderbolt late in the second half.

Junior Stanislas seemed to have secured a point for Burnley before Williams snatched the win for Boro.

Wantaway Matt Phillips came off the bench to earn Blackpool at 2-1 win over Leeds as they came from behind.

Tom Lees had headed Leeds in front and Blackpool saw two penalty shouts rejected before substitutes Nouha Dicko and Phillips turned the game around.

Kevin Davies and Chris Eagles each had late goals as Bolton got their first win in the Championship, beating Derby 2-0.

Jordan Rhodes’ stoppage time penalty salvaged a point for Huddersfield after Simon Cox looked to have marked his first Nottingham Forest start with the winner in a 1-1 draw.

Bristol City beat Crystal Palace 4-1 to get their season rolling. Ryan Taylor got the first with nine minutes on the clock and moments later Martyn Woolford rifled home a left-footed shot.

Johnathan Parr brought down Jonathan Stead in the area just before the hour mark, and Stead’s penalty made it 3-0.

Kagisho Dikgacoi got one back for Palace, but Albert Adomah smashed home from 25 yards to seal it for City.

Michael Chopra capped a fine move in the dying moments as Ipswich snatched a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road to beat Watford.

Darius Henderson got the winner for Millwall as they came from behind to beat Peterborough 2-1.

George Boyd put the hosts in front before Scott Malone levelled.

Brighton and Cardiff shared the points in a goalless draw.