Barnsley 1, Leicester 1, Positives and Negatives, Player Ratings and Match Report, League One Fixture

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Russell Martin made new changes to the team playing Olabade Aluko and Wout Faes instead of Jayden Joseph and John Souttar. Souttar was named on the bench, Joseph not in the squad.

Leicester started the game brilliantly and scored the opening goal after just 7 minutes. Liam Cullen finishing this great build up after some fantastic passing and play, coming through from the back.

Leicester looked composed and in good shape, hoping again for more to come as this first goal set us all in a good mood. Then when Barnsley were reduced to 10 men, you had even more hope of a win, and more goals to be scored.

But in some obscured way, Barnsley became more dangerous as Leicester struggled to find a formula to use their advantage of being one player more.

Sammy Braybrooke had a chance to score from a header later on in the half, but it looked glued and difficult to get some sort of momentum, often happening when you do not have a proper shape, turning your squad around and are not able to score on those half chances.

Emil Riis and Luke Thomas also with chances to score, but it did not happen.

A point at Oakwell 🔵#BARLEI | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/xRi75YziKk
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 19, 2026

Coming out second half we had hopes for more goals and a Leicester team going on attacking, but it was more standing football and passing forward and back in those early minutes of the second half, not really being able to play on the front foot. A lot of bad passing as well, not having the touch needed to get things rolling.

Then in the 61st minute Barnsley’s Reyes Curley was played through after Leicester’s Warren O’Hora had made a horrible pass and lost the ball in a vital area. Leicester were taken on the counter. Curley scored with a hammer of a shot, going straight in the net behind Alex McCarthy.

Leicester fought on towards the end, having a number of chances to score, but it looked glued and difficult for the players on the pitch not having the quality and ability to convert, and again many of the players far below their standard. The fact that very few of these players are used to be playing week in and week out, will see them have different form curves going forward, and we need as fans to be patient as we will witness some of this happenings.

A terrible result and giving a way a lead being one more player on the pitch is a horrific outcome of a game that Leicester should easily have won and picked up three points. But this season will be long and hopefully more minutes in the legs for some of these players will see things improve going forward.

Positives

Scoring a nice goal after a terrific build up
Building up enough chances during the game to win it comfortably
Liam Cullen having a new goal scored, building confidence
John Lundstram driving the team in the correct manner, but getting tired towards the end
Luke Thomas also having a good game, hopefully his offensive approach will lead to goals in the future
Leicester are just one point from the play off zone
At least getting a point on board playing away

Negatives

Strange to see how this Leicester team appear after taking an early lead
Giving away a lead having one more player on the field
Not being able to score from enough chances
Why players stop running or move backwards, when they have pace to pass their opponent
Tommy Watson what is he up to, his finish on goal was far from a professional act
Subs not really contributing much, having massive possibilities, but looks far from capable
Emil Riis not showing his best today, why is that suddenly happening
The highest and lowest in performance from certain players are scary to watch
Experienced players doing terrible mistakes
Strange to see so many corners passes to the back post when no one is there to pick it up
Player are overthinking and often lacks cretativity and movement to get in the correct shape

Line Up:
McCarthy 6, Aluko 5, Thomas 6, O’Hora 5, Faes 5, Page 6, Braybrooke 4, Lundstram 7, Riis 4, Alves 5, Cullen 5 Subs: Coulibaly 4, Burns, Howell, Reid, Watson