adminLeicester City supporters went into Saturday’s meeting with Oxford United hoping to see signs that their difficult start to the season was finally beginning to change.
Instead, they were left stunned.
The Foxes were thrashed 4-0 at the King Power Stadium, suffering their second defeat in five League One matches and leaving Russell Martin under even greater pressure.
Mark Harris opened the scoring before Oxford took complete control after the break. Mo Missanga doubled the advantage, Harris added his second and Jamie McDonnell completed the rout.
But the scoreline was only part of the problem.
Leicester lacked the energy, aggression and urgency supporters expected, while Martin’s possession-heavy approach once again came under scrutiny.
The reaction inside the King Power Stadium was fierce, with supporters making their feelings known to Martin, the players and the board throughout the second half.
And with Leicester now sitting 17th in League One after five matches, the pressure surrounding the club has intensified.
Amid the frustration, Harry Souttar was asked to explain what went wrong.
The Australian, who has captained the Foxes in four of their five league matches, did not attempt to hide from the criticism.
Instead, he pointed to several fundamental areas where Leicester had fallen short.
“The result speaks for itself really,” Souttar said post-match.
“It doesn’t matter the way you want to play, but if you’re not going to run, compete, win tackles, win headers and not give yourself a chance to be in the game, you don’t deserve anything in the game. We certainly didn’t deserve anything.”
Those comments are likely to attract plenty of attention from Leicester supporters, particularly given the manner of Saturday’s defeat.
Souttar was then asked about the reaction from the supporters, including the boos that followed Oxford’s third and fourth goals.
His response was equally direct.
“Rightfully so,” he added.
“For the ones that stayed and clapped us off, thank you we didn’t deserve it.”
Souttar acknowledged that the responsibility now lies with the players to respond and change the mood around the club.
“It’s up to us as a group of playing staff to put that right,” he said.
“Ultimately we want to come here and make it exciting, play good football and create lots of chances. But if you don’t do the other side of the game, that’s the bare minimum, then you don’t give yourself a chance.”
For Leicester, the message is now clear.
The defeat to Oxford United cannot simply be brushed aside, and Souttar’s comments suggest the players themselves recognise that a major response is required.
With the Foxes already 17th after five League One games, the pressure will only increase if results and performances do not improve quickly.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim