Russell Martin made a winning start as Leicester City head coach as the Foxes beat Northampton in the EFL Cup at King Power Stadium.

The League Two side had a golden chance inside the first minute when Harry Souttar misplaced a pass straight to Harvey Saunders but his hurried effort was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.

Caleb Okoli put City ahead when he shrugged off his marker to meet a Luke Thomas corner with a downward header which bounced into the net.

Liam Cullen had a debut goal ruled out by a very late offside flag when he volleyed in, and the hosts had to withstand some nervous moments before progressing.

Looking to kickstart their fortunes after back-to-back relegations, City got the Martin era under way with a win, but did not have an easy ride against the Cobblers for whom new boss Chris Hogg made his debut in senior management.

Okoli scored only once last season but took just 15 minutes of the new campaign to match that tally, although City found it hard to kick on and looked shaky at the back when pressed.

Northampton debutant Connor Lemonheigh-Evans forced Stolarczyk into a sprawling save after he was slipped in by Elliott List, and Jon Guthrie should have done better than head over from the resulting corner.

The Foxes continued to boss possession after the break without creating much danger, with Okoli and Bobby de Cordova-Reid forcing Northampton goalkeeper Zach Jeacock into action.

Leicester brought on new signings Tommy Watson and Wes Burns, but could not find the comfort of a two-goal cushion, and after Cullen had his dream debut moment chalked off, the dawdling Foxes defence continued to give the Cobblers hope.

Stolarczyk had to race far out of his goal to prevent a one-on-one after Souttar again gave away possession, while Okoli was almost caught out on the edge of his own 18-yard box.

But City squeezed through and will head to Notts County next Saturday to open their first League One campaign in 17 years, while the newly relegated Cobblers begin life in League Two at home to Swindon.