Published: 11:13 BST, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 11:26 BST, 6 September 2026
Some Leicester City fans are turning on Russell Martin after his comments following their latest disappointing result.
The Foxes were thumped 4-0 at home by Oxford United in League One on Saturday afternoon.
It was their heaviest-ever defeat in the third tier and sees the club sitting 17th in the table with just one win alongside two draws and two defeats.
Leicester were tipped by many to come straight back up to the Championship after suffering a second-straight relegation from the Premier League to League One. It's even more galling for the club who were crowned Premier League champions ten years ago.
However, that has not proved to be the case – with Russell citing their young team as a reason why Saturday's result happened. Russell, who lasted just 123 days at Rangers before he was sacked last season, included five players in his starting XI under the age of 23, including two teenagers. The five substitutes they brought on were aged 18, 19, 20, 21 and 23.
'I'm not concerned about that happening again,' he told BBC Radio Leicester.
🦊#LCFC | Russell Martin says today’s 4-0 defeat against Oxford United was ‘unacceptable’.Leicester City have won 1️⃣ game out of their opening 5️⃣ in League One. 🔗 https://t.co/NHbU8Q5AYD pic.twitter.com/z9qex2FNGY
Leicester City manager Russell Martin is under-pressure from fans after his post-match interview following their 4-0 defeat by Oxford United
'I feel I understand what's happened today with so many young guys and a tough moment. We can't quite get through it and after a big, busy period.
'We will be better for it. We have a week now and we have to make sure we put it right next week.'
He then added: 'We had a lot of players who were doing a third game in a week for the first time in their careers, but it's not an excuse.
'But I think that's the learning now – we have to find a team on the pitch, especially in a three-game week that can deliver a consistent level of aggression and a consistent level of energy because the last three games we have built so much energy, so much feel-good factor about it.
'The players and staff, the fans have been brilliant and we had to build on the win on Tuesday night and today we have done the opposite.'
That viewpoint didn't go down with supporters on social media with one writing: 'He just can't help himself. Blaming the kids at the end… wow. The one thing the fans have really got behind is the young players, and you've just thrown them under the bus.
