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 10 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. 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.’Not sure how you come back from this, Russell Martin.’That was echoed by other angry fans. One user put: ‘Leaders lead from the front, take responsibility and face it head on …not this poor excuse as a manager, blaming younger players and not his tactics and choice of captain, disgraceful.’ Another wrote on X: ‘This is worse than we thought… He doesn’t think this is on him, his tactics & his suicidal style of play.. but inexperience & three games a week instead!’Takes some balls to be having your pants pulled down by the likes of St Mirren/Falkirk/Burton/Oxford & still be this delusional.’Another angry Leicester fan commented: ‘Nonsense. We were exposed today by every single issue that was there in the other two games this past week.’The only naivety (stupidity) is from the manager.’Since guiding Southampton to the Premier League via the 2023-24 Championship play-offs, Martin has won only three of his last 28 league matches across two years with three different clubs (Southampton, Rangers and Leicester) – for an 11 per cent win ratio. His time at Scottish giants Rangers saw him win just one of his seven league matches, drawing five and losing the other. Across 17 games in all competitions there he recorded just five victories. Martin will be hoping to turn around Leicester’s form and his critics’ anger when they travel to Stockport County on Saturday afternoon.
Leicester City fans turn on ‘disgraceful’ manager Russell Martin over his ‘throwing under the bus’ interview after they lost 4-0 at home in League One, 10 years after Premier League title
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 10 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. 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.’Not sure how you come back from this, Russell Martin.’That was echoed by other angry fans. One user put: ‘Leaders lead from the front, take responsibility and face it head on …not this poor excuse as a manager, blaming younger players and not his tactics and choice of captain, disgraceful.’ Another wrote on X: ‘This is worse than we thought… He doesn’t think this is on him, his tactics & his suicidal style of play.. but inexperience & three games a week instead!’Takes some balls to be having your pants pulled down by the likes of St Mirren/Falkirk/Burton/Oxford & still be this delusional.’Another angry Leicester fan commented: ‘Nonsense. We were exposed today by every single issue that was there in the other two games this past week.’The only naivety (stupidity) is from the manager.’Since guiding Southampton to the Premier League via the 2023-24 Championship play-offs, Martin has won only three of his last 28 league matches across two years with three different clubs (Southampton, Rangers and Leicester) – for an 11 per cent win ratio. His time at Scottish giants Rangers saw him win just one of his seven league matches, drawing five and losing the other. Across 17 games in all competitions there he recorded just five victories. Martin will be hoping to turn around Leicester’s form and his critics’ anger when they travel to Stockport County on Saturday afternoon.