Leicester 0, Oxford 4, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, League One Fixture

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We believed Russell Martin would give most of the players from the Plymouth game a new start, with the goalkeeper change the only one expected, seeing Alex McCarthy in goal.

Russell Martin decided to bring back Wes Burns in the line up leaving Harry Howell on the bench. He also gave Emil Riis a starting spot instead of Admir Bristric.

Not a lot of drama in those decisions made, but from start it looked something was wrong. The opponent had done their homework on the Leicester players and especially Christian McFarlane looked poor, being exposed early on, never getting any rest at all, and possibly being seen as the weakest link to break down, strange but it looks clearly as that today.

Oxford manager Aaron Ramsey had picked out the essentials and blocked the corridors for Leicester with some smart an clever moves in marking and having Louis Page and Sammy Braybrooke both taken out. Why Leicester players do not decided to just push the ball out to Will Alves almost as soon as they get it, is a clever question.

Oxford made it clear early on that they would go for their opportunities and handed one after just 8 minutes, giving Mark Harris the opportunity to score from close range, made it obvious that their plan had advantages. A bad start for Leicester who had passed the ball around the area before this happened.

BDCR and Wes Burns had opportunites, both to score and give assists, but both misused their chances and passes. Jayden Joseph having a double shot saved late on in the first half was also opportunities that could have saved the day for Leicester, but instead they just feeded Oxford players with more energy and hopes of a great away result.

A defeat at home.#LEIOXU | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/cwd34y6oW3
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 5, 2026

Coming out second half, Russell Martin had decided to leave BDCR in the dressing room and giving a debut to new arrival Kamari Doyle. Why he did that is far from understandable. You can argue and discuss about BDCR but his first half was not at a level to see him being subbed off after 45 minutes.

Russell Martin showed naivity when he decided to put on Kamari Doyle, leaving a midfield trio of an avarage age of around 20, to have a go to try to solve a situation for Leicester. This all ended in a total nightmare, Leicester being heavily exposed on counter attack.

Oxford scoring three goals from the 57th to the 77th minute, not really creating much more chances, but just laying back and waiting for their opportunities. They were clever and took their chances well. Executing their game plan to 100% perfection. What a performance from Aaron Ramsey and his men.

This is how the system of Russell Martin can backfire when it is taken down in the way Oxford manager Aaron Ramsey did today, but things could have gone differently had Emil Riis scored on his header early in the first half.

This Leicester team got a hard knock today, but unfortunately in a season, playing with high grade of possession you can end up in these situations. Looking at the positives after a 0-4 defeat at home, might not be easy, but the fact that one of the better teams in this division is not going to visit again is one, the other is that a structure and set up of this system of play, with so many different moves over the last few weeks, will of course affect the team.

We beleive Russell Martin will sort it out, but it can take time, with a squad of players struggling to adapt to the style, to the pattern and to see that two expensive signings in Cullen and Kangasniemi not even makes the bench is a major warning sign as it shows lack of judgement in either selection or recruitment.

Positives

Will Alves trying his best, having a few attempts to try to break a low block with shots or passes
Getting Emil Riis into action straight away
Jayden Joseph making attempts going forward and trying
Conor Chaplin and John Lundstram will shape it up in midfield, be patient

Negatives

Doing a major change at half time, far from being a clever one
Russell Martin being trolled and humiliated by Aaron Ramsey, not being able to get a constructive plan B to work
A number of players looking far from comfortable out there, especially Wes Burns have major trouble
Christian McFarlane struggling heavily, looking totally different from previous games, scaring to watch
Letting in four goals, being to open in the back and not able to handle the counter attacks
Again playing with loads of possession without penetrating in the opponents box
Leicester having soft attempts to score, but nothing worked today
Alex McCarthy had no say in the goals conceded, not his fault
Full Collapse, not really defending and attacking the way it is supposed to be done
You need shots and passing in from the flanks in the air to tear down a low block, not playing into it
Too little sharpness in every part of passing, shooting, heading, claring, everything
Young players will have up’s and down’s

Line Up:
McCarthy 5, Joseph 5, Thomas 4, McFarlane 2, Souttar 3, Page 4, Braybrooke 4, Reid 4, Burns 1, Alves 5, Riis 5 Subs: Doyle 2, Watson, Howell, Aluko, Bristric