Leicester 1, Northampton 0, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, Carabao Cup Fixture

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Again shocking to see the use of Bobby De Cordava-Reid as a top attacking striker in this Leicester line up. Liam Cullen in a role behind, said to be a 4-1-4-1 set up.

Nathan Opoku absent and not in the squad. This is a team not really having the ability to be fluid in any way. Not knowing why Russell Martin decides to use the Jamaican as an alternative in this position. Will Alves or Liam Cullen would have been a much better alternative, without a proper striker option. BDCR is in no way able to do this job. When getting the line-up, believed it was Liam Cullen starting up front, but it was not.

Leicester struggled heavily from start, when after one minute, Northampton given a massive chance to score from a total black out Harry Souttar pass. He passed the ball straight into the feet of The Cobblers new signing from Tranmere, Harry Saunders, but a quick reaction from Jacub Stolarczyk saving his attempt.

Jayden Jospeh chosen over Woyo Coulibaly, playing in the right back position. Luke Thomas, Harry Souttar and Caleb Okoli were the other players in the Leicester back line.

Leicester looked shaky and fragile from start, not really being fluid in passing. Northampton looked much more agile with more energy. The Cobblers pushed on to get those counters that we are so affraid can destroy another Leicester season. Too many players are standing still and the ball often pushed around with little or no distance.

Again playing Will Alves out wide, not really a position he should be used in, but better to have him on the field, than on the subs bench, so we just accept the fact that Russell Martin has not yet discovered what a mess this could be, if he continues to field his team in this way.

Leicester played Northampton at Seagrave in that early pre-season friendly, using Riley Carr on the flank, and Will Alves as that attacking central midfielder, you had a totally other movement and a much better balance. Today Liam Cullen struggled, be absent in most of the game.

Then in the 15th minute, Leicester get a corner, taken by Luke Thomas finding Caleb Okoli inside the penalty area, his header is perfectly placed and a bit out of nothing, Leicester are 1-0 up.

Northampton manager Chris Hogg fielded his team in a 4-4-2 set up. This gives you one more body in the midfield area, with Leicester not having players who can play that ball fast wide, but instead trolling around in the middle, struggling to get things correctly and often losing the ball in tight areas.

It was again frustrating to watch. Wingers are not given the best support on and off the ball, combinations are absent as players do not come into the correct pockets and it looks far from a settled set up. Playing Bobby De Cordova-Reid in that top striker position is also giving every other player on the field a heavy challenge.

Into the second round ✅#LEINOR | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/05diljN0y1
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 8, 2026

This first half was a very frustrating watch, as old habits from last season were obvious and it was far from what we had expecting. Coming out second half, Leicester were more on the front foot.

A number of potential oppertunities were either stopped or saved, one special was that with Stephy Mavididi brilliantly played through, but not able to score on an open goal, being tackled and missing the opportunity.

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. The ball was deflected from a Northampton player, so strange to see this being dissallowed.

Russell Martin made a number of substitutions towards the end giving both Tommy Watson and Wes Burns their Leicester debuts. Olabade Aluko, Hamza Choudhury and Louis Page also given game time.

A lot of strange passing towards the end and losing the ball in critical areas made it again very nervous to watch a Leicester side falling heavily in standard, again showing how desperately they need a man up front to lead the line. Shocking that Leicester do not have a striker option at this time, and not really rating Nathan Opoku, despite his goalscoring in pre-season. He would have been a much better option than Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who is hopefully never played in this position again in this Leicester team.

Leicester managed to get it over the line, and are through to the second round of the Carabao Cup, but this was a shocking experience to watch, not really managing to win this game with comfortable numbers, instead struggling with almost everything out there today.

Positives

Caleb Okoli scoring his goal from a set piece
Jacub Stolarczyk with a steady performance, keeping a clean sheet
Will Alves trying as much as possible, being played out of position
Getting through to the second round, doing what was enough to win
Some good defending at times in the penalty area, blocking attempts
Giving Tommy Watson and Wes Burns their debuts

Negatives

Northampton coming in a 4-4-2 formation and Leicester not understanding the problem
Too many sloppy short passes in your own area, shocking
Playing without a striker, it’s disastrous to see BDCR playing in this position, shocking
Liam Cullen not much involved and looked lost in his midfield role
Strange positioning from Sammy Braybrooke at times, often being too wide and not in the middle of the field
Nathan Opoku not even on the bench, scoring goals in pre-season, possibly injured
Leicester still without a proper striker, shocking
A team that should have destroyed a League Two opposition, instead they looked fragile
Having 77% ball possession should result in more goals, Leicester need to convert in a much better way
The ball should be on the opposition half not on your own, shocking to watch all the passing in the back area

Line Up:
Stolarczyk 7, Joseph 6, Souttar 6, Okoli 6, Thomas 5, Braybrooke 6, Cullen 5, Skipp 5, Mavididi 5, Alves 6, Reid 5, Subs: Choudhury, Aluko, Page, Burns, Watson