Football: Lili gets new boss Levein off to flier; CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL: LEICESTER 3 COVENTRY 0 CRAIG'S HOME DEBUT FOXTROT.

Byline: IAN EDWARDS 

CRAIG LEVEIN won himself instant hero status by finding a cure for the curse of the Walkers Stadium as Leicester piled on the pressure for struggling Coventry manager Peter Reid.

Levein marked his home debut with a sparkling victory to end a run of just two wins at the Walkers Stadium in the last 12 months.

If anyone around the club had any doubts about whether the Scot was the right man for the job, this was the answer as Leicester moved up to 12th in the table.

French midfielder Lilian Nalis started the rot for Reid's sorry side, who have now won only once in 12 games.

Danny Tiatto's last goal, two-and-a-half years ago, came against Coventry and he took the opportunity to end his drought with his first goal for Leicester since joining in the summer from Manchester City.

Just to increase the misery for Reid, Matt Heath headed home a second-half corner from Keith Gillespie to finish off the romp.

Levein was delighted to end Leicester's wretched run of form at the Walkers Stadium.

He said: "The only people that used to be scared about coming to the Walkers Stadium was our players.

"Now I want other teams to be scared of coming here. That is the position that I want us to get into and we have made a very good start.

"Obviously the expectation levels at a club the size of Leicester are high. I understand that, but we have been made very welcome and there is a good feeling about the place.

"I am ambitious and so are Leicester and, overall, the first game at home has been a very pleasant experience."

The same cannot be said for Reid who felt his players let him down with a spineless performance.

Instead of making Levein battle for his first victory, Reid accused his players of lying down and accepting defeat in a cowardly manner.

"It is the first time I have had to say it, but the players did not compete. They did not give me everything and that is the least you expect as a manager," fumed Reid.

"They didn't have the stomach for a battle and that was disappointing. We lost every tackle and the players know that they owe me a performance on Saturday and a performance for the rest of the season after this."

The writing was on the wall for Reid from the moment Nalis struck his fourth goal of the season and second in as many matches after 26 minutes.

Peter Canero's cross was only half cleared to the edge of the box by Adie Williams and Nalis pounced to drive a low shot past the fingertips of Luke Steele.

Leicester had to wait until first-half stoppage time to increase their lead when Florent Laville's attempted clearance in his own box went straight to Tiatto.

The Leicester captain was left completely unmarked to ram home a powerful shot to double the lead.

From that point there was no way back for Coventry, although Michael Doyle's shot forced Kevin Pressman into a smart, low save.

Just to rub salt into the wounds, a goalkeeping error from young Manchester United keeper Steele deepened Coventry's misery 20 minutes from time.

His decision to come to punch Gillespie's corner was a poor one and he was nowhere near Heath as the defender's header sped into his net.

Leicester have reason to be smug with themselves over landing the 40-year-old Levein.

There is already a good feeling about the man who came highly recommended by former manager Martin O'Neill - but the same cannot be said of Reid, whose Coventry side are on a dangerous nosedive towards the relegation zone.

CAPTION(S):

IN THE PINK: Lilian Nalis (second left) is mobbed after scoring