Martin faces Leicester baptism of fire after humiliating Oxford collapse

Russell Martin's reign has begun in the starkest possible circumstances. One win in five games, angry chants from the King Power Stadium faithful, and a squad assembled with inexperience that struggles to cope with the weight of expectation.

A decade ago, Leicester were preparing for the Champions League. Now they're battling to climb out of the third tier after two years of freefall.

Michael Appleton, the club's former assistant manager, insists Martin possesses the experience to navigate this crisis. "It's still very early," Appleton told Sky Sports News, acknowledging the depth of the hole but pointing to Martin's proven ability to steady ships in similar circumstances.

According to Sky Sports, Martin has managed just three league wins across 28 attempts since the start of 2024/25 at Southampton, Rangers and Leicester combined.

The disconnect runs deeper than results alone. Joe Jacobson of Reading, speaking on the same programme, highlighted how youth inexperience compounds matters—young players absorbing pressure from a fanbase bruised by the club's trajectory. Add the distraction of ownership uncertainty, and Leicester face a perfect storm.

Yet history offers a glimmer. Martin's Southampton side lost four games in September, then avoided defeat in the league until February. The talent exists. Whether belief can be restored is the question that will define his tenure.

The next fortnight is critical.