Leicester City began their campaign for a swift Premier League return in dramatic fashion, sealing a 2-1 home victory over a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side clouded by off-field turmoil. A late header from Wout Faes secured all three points at the King Power Stadium, but the match was equally defined by powerful fan protests and the visitors’ defiant performance despite a host of challenges.
Fan Protests Highlight Deepening Crisis at Sheffield Wednesday
The match began under a cloud for Sheffield Wednesday, whose supporters made a strong statement against club owner Dejphon Chansiri. Fans staged a delayed entrance, leaving the away end empty at kickoff in protest over long-standing financial issues, including unpaid wages and EFL-imposed transfer embargoes. A visible banner in the stands declared: “SWFC for sale – enough is enough.”
Once the five-minute silent protest ended, Wednesday fans filled the stands and were met with applause from the Leicester faithful—a rare moment of solidarity between opposing supporters.
Gritty Wednesday Take Shock Lead Despite Limited Squad
Despite fielding just 15 senior players due to their financial constraints, Sheffield Wednesday showed early determination. Midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah gave the visitors an unlikely lead midway through the first half with a deflected strike from the edge of the area that left Leicester’s keeper rooted.
Leicester Respond in Second Half as Pressure Mounts
Leicester, widely tipped for promotion under new manager Steve Cooper, struggled to find rhythm in the opening half but improved significantly after the break. The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Bilal El Khannouss delivered a dangerous free-kick into the box, and Jannik Vestergaard pounced on the loose ball to smash home the equaliser.
Red Card Turns Tide Before Faes Heads Home Winner
With 14 minutes left on the clock, Sheffield Wednesday’s captain Barry Bannan—already on a yellow card—was shown a second booking for a late tackle on Harry Winks, reducing the visitors to 10 men. The numerical disadvantage proved too much to overcome.
Leicester capitalized in the 87th minute when substitute Wout Faes rose highest to head in from a corner, completing the comeback and sparking scenes of relief among the home supporters.
A Winning Start, But Tougher Tests Await
While the Foxes will be pleased with the result and a promising second-half performance, the hard-fought nature of the win highlights areas still needing work. For Wednesday, the performance—if not the result—offered glimpses of resilience, but the deeper crisis at the club threatens to overshadow their entire season.
