Stockport 3, Leicester 4, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, League One Fixture

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Russell Martin made changes we believed would happen, having O’Hora and Lundstram in our team in our pre-match report. He also left Wes Burns out and gave that place to Liam Cullen. Cullen responded on his chance, scoring the first goal of the game after just 11 minutes. Played through by Louis Page, Cullen made a nice turn and placed the ball perfectly behind the Stockport goalkeeper down in the right corner.

This lead was soon equaled by Stockport, scoring the 1-1 goal after 22 minutes. The game switched a bit back and forward, Leicester not able to take the full command, something we did not expect either. The Hatters is a physical team, playing on the instincts the players possess, using the basics in football, but also having that edge that often can result in winning football games, especially at home.

A break and a nice move from Louis Page after 30 minutes, found Emil Riis on a perfect run, placing the ball over the Stockport goalkeeper, Leicester were 2-1 up, a lead they kept through the half.

Russell Martin must have given the players a good talk at the break, as they came straight out to take full controll of the action. John Lundstram had a strong presence and his contribution will be of great importance this season, making a solid debut today and giving the team good balance, but it also made Sammy Braybrooke vanishing in his role, not really taking much part in this game today. Braybrooke played very offensive, almost as a second striker, but never managed to become involved as we would like him to be.

Just three minutes into the 2nd half, Emil Riis again showed his presence, getting the ball, storming forward and placing his shot perfectly behind the Stockport goalkeeper. Possibly one shot to save, but for Riis it ment 2 goals scored and Leicester in a comfortable 3-1 lead.

Three points on the road! ✅#SPCLEI | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/j8nbgEkAPx
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 12, 2026

Then just 4 minutes later John Lundstram also got on the scoresheet, seeing his nice header from a Louis Page corner, finding the net and suddenly Leicester had a sensational 4-1 lead. This looked a bit fortunate, having seen some great chances for Stockport being spoiled. On a normal day those attempts would have found the net, but a great save from Alex McCarthy getting his hand on the ball, and a bar being helpful, those massive Stockport chances were stopped.

Despite having a 4-1 lead Leicester more or lessed collapsed. This is frustrating to watch as this looks the most difficult part of this teams challenges to solve. A lot of the players looked very tired and almost out of air, as Stockport pushed for goals. Leicester did not lay down in two blocks, but instead of controlling, they made it possible for the opponent to get into those areas and pockets that with a good defensive structure would have been blocked out. Will Alves especially becomes very exposed in these situations, not really a player that is a defensive flank alternative, today being very silent and not really part of the game either, but doing a more defensive job, and then he looks far from the player he is, but credit to him for trying to carry out a job.

Then in the 57th minute, Stockport is rewarded wit a free kick just outside the penalty area. Stockport captain Oliver Norwood expressed the free kick straight into the goal. Alex McCarthy not able to structure up the wall as it should have, and placing himself totally off guard to be able to reach the ball. A massive mistake by the Leicester goalkeeper, but all credit to the executer as he found the net. 4-2 just four minutes after Leicester had scored. The game was in real back to a battle as Stockport chased their third. When Kyle Wotten found the net after 61 minutes, and being the team running this office in these minutes, made it certain it would become a struggle to keep the lead.

Stockport put great pressure on Leicester and had two goals rightly dissaloved for offside. Alex McCarthy made a couple of qualified saves to keep Leicester in the lead. Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Tommy Watson, Ilar Kangasniemi, Wes Burns and Olabade Aluko came on at different times towards the end, and they managed to cool the pressure a bit, despite having to fight well in the final minutes of this stressful affair, bringing home a very important win at a very difficult time.

Coming to Edgeley Park and bring home a win is not easy. Their last home fixture was on the second round of the season, winning 5-1 vs. Wycombe. This is a difficult place to come, against a team looking more of unit than Leicester are at the moment, with a lot of new people who do not really know each other much.

A very strong result and great also to see so many new players being part of this win, that builds character. Giving Lundstram, Kangasniemi and O’Hora their debuts today and getting home from this place with three points is massive.

Positives

Scoring 4 great goals, some with nice build up’s, one from a set piece and also scoring from long range
Emil Riis scoring 2, showing he is a proper goalscorer, hopefully more will come
John Lundstram scoring and having a solid debut building this midfield stronger
Getting a win at a very difficult place
Giving so many new faces a chance to be part of a massive win
Playing a good first half, and keeping the lead in difficult circumstances in the second half
Liam Cullen playing his best match for Leicester and scoring a vital opener with a clinical finish
Kangasniemi looked solid and what a presence, not really getting any time to show what he is made off, but he looked sharp, hopefully he will get more games coming forward, having seen him play, he is a monster of a defender, pacy, good in the air, can jump and a good header on the ball
Having less possession than the opponent, and winning a game of football under Russell Martin
Alex McCarthy being pragmatic and often today playing it out far, when that was needed
Getting all three points in a difficult situation, a good and vital part in lifting team spirit

Negatives

Far from fluid, some strange passing in the back, not really having the tools in place to play this ball game, but when it works, Leicester are dangerous and it will of course hopefully improve to get Emil Riis into pockets and areas that will see Louis Page able to find him with his passes
Sammy Braybrooke doing a job, but felt he had little or no say in the build up today, being possibly taken out of the game by certain Stockport tactical decisions
Will Alves tracking far back, not really suiting his game, surprised to see him so limited, but again credit to Stockport and their tactical move to neutralise him
Harry Souttar passing ability and positioning looked strange at times, being out of position too many times, to be that controll and leader in the back, looking stretched and fragile
Letting a 4-1 lead almost slip, with no reason to do so, certain players are losing their battles one vs. one too many times

Line Up:
McCarthy 5, Joseph 5, Thomas 5, O’Hora 6, Souttar 6, Page 7, Braybrooke 5, Lundstram 7, Riis 8, Alves 5, Cullen 7 Subs: Watson, Burns, BDCR, Kangasniemi, Aluko