Once again, Stephy Mavididi and Wout Faes, the subject of much transfer speculation, were left out of the squad for Leicester’s first home league game of the season, the first time they have ever faced Burton Albion in a league encounter. In an unsettling situation, there is still no clear guidance on their futures, although, in more promising news, it appears that Sheffield United’s interest in centre back Harry Souttar has cooled.
A pre-match report correctly predicted that Admir Bristric would make his home debut in place of Bobby De Cordova Reid. In the other change, Jayden Joseph was ruled out with injury and replaced by Bade Aluko at right back. Conor Chaplin, back in training again after injury, didn’t make the squad.
This was a game the Foxes were widely expected to win. To go 2-0 down after less than 30 minutes and then to lose Oliver Skipp - who was red carded for a high, but far from dangerous, tackle – was a disaster. Just before the break, Leicester pulled one back after a cross from Alves was flicked on by Bristric for Burns to convert at the far post.
Despite being down to ten men, the Foxes dominated the second half without creating very much. In one last desperate move, Russell Martin sent Souttar to join the attack but to no avail.
A new low point
There have been precious few highs for Foxes’ fans over the past two seasons, but Saturday’s result marked a new low point. At full time, Leicester found themselves in 18th position in the third tier of English football, the lowest position in the club’s league history.Â
 Yes, there were some positives (honestly). Going forward, the Foxes often played with speed and intensity. Bristric played reasonably well for his first start, putting himself about and creating the goal with a deft header. Despite being down to ten men for two thirds of the game, Leicester – with 74 per cent possession – dominated.
However, the defending for the two Burton goal was abject and, despite the reasonable approach play, very few chances were created (three attempts on target compared to the away team’s six). The lack of quality shown when playing out from the back too often looked like a disaster waiting to happen.
Above all, Leicester’s opponents were not one of the expected challengers for promotion this season but little Burton Albion, a club created as recently as 1950 who have spent most of their existence in the lower reaches of English football and are widely predicted to struggle this season. If the Foxes have any chance of getting back to the Championship this campaign, it is the type of game they simply have to win.
 Martin under pressure
As soon as they went two down, the Leicester crowd turned on the team. Individual players – and particularly central defender Caleb Okoli whose mistake led to the second Burton goal – were booed, and chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ echoed around the King Power Stadium. In the second half, Martin’s - odd - decision to substitute Wes Burns, Will Alves and especially Admir Bristric (all three who had done quite well in the game up to that point) was met with chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.
It may seem premature to talk about the manager’s position this early in the season but, such is the level of discontent amongst the Foxes’ faithful after two successive relegations, that Martin will not have long to show that he is capable of turning things round. A massive improvement is required but it is difficult to see it happening any time soon.
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