Blackpool announced its arrival in the English Premier League in stunning style Saturday by trouncing Wigan as James Milner fired Aston Villa to victory and Tottenham drew with Manchester City.
Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to draw with 10-man Sunderland, Blackburn overcame Everton, Wolves defeated Stoke and Bolton played out a stalemate with Fulham.
Marlon Harewood’s two goals had Blackpool in Premier League dreamland as Ian Holloway’s men confounded the critics as they romped to a 4-0 success at Wigan where Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had an afternoon to forget.
The Seasiders had been widely expected to be cannon-fodder in the top flight after their promotion via the play-offs but needed just 16 minutes to make their mark among the elite through Gary Taylor-Fletcher before new signing Harewood bagged two in five minutes ahead of the interval.
Alex Baptiste’s hopeful cross confounded Kirkland at his near post to complete the scoring and send Blackpool to the top of the fledgling table, in a game which also marked the return to action of referee Mark Halsey following a spell away from the game as he battled throat cancer.
Aston Villa started life after Martin O’Neill with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Avram Grant’s West Ham as James Milner, whose anticipated exit for Manchester City played a key role in his former manager’s departure, completed the scoring.
Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to overcome 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as Scott Dann headed through Simon Mignolet’s legs before the goalkeeper was again rooted to his line in the closing moments as Liam Ridgewell bundled home two minutes from time.
David Jones scored a stunning goal from a sublime free-kick routine to set Wolves on their way to victory over Stoke, with Steven Fletcher bundling home a second soon after before Abdoulaye Faye powered in a header after the break.
An astonishing blunder by U.S. National Team keeper Tim Howard gifted Blackburn victory at Ewood Park as the Everton goalkeeper inexplicably spilled the ball in the 14th minute, allowing Nikola Kalinic to slot home.
New Fulham manager Mark Hughes watched his side claim a point from his first match in charge as the Cottagers drew 0-0 with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
