Leicester Boss Russell Martin Reflects on Opening Day Draw Against Notts County

Leicester boss Russell Martin admitted his side have plenty to digest after being pegged back to a 1-1 draw at Notts County on the opening day.

County set the tone, Leicester land the first blow

Notts County started as if they had a point to prove. They pressed high, snapped into challenges and forced Leicester into uncomfortable areas.

Their early dominance almost brought reward when Ollie Cooper pounced on a loose clearance from Alex McCarthy. His effort had the goalkeeper beaten but crashed against the crossbar, a warning Leicester did not immediately heed.

County kept Leicester penned in for long spells, hunting in packs, going man-to-man across the pitch. For Martin’s new-look side, with several debutants and academy products starting, it was a sharp first taste of competitive football under a demanding press.

Yet when the deadlock was finally broken, it went Leicester’s way.

On 62 minutes, Jayden Joseph stepped up and changed the mood. Given a yard of space, he drove forward and unleashed a fierce right-footed strike from distance. The shot flew past James Belshaw, a clean, ruthless finish that silenced the home crowd and seemed to tilt the game Leicester’s way.

It was harsh on County, who had carried the greater threat for much of the contest. But it underlined Leicester’s quality in moments.

Martin: lessons in control and composure

Speaking to Sky Sports after his first league game in charge since Leicester’s relegation from the Championship, Martin cut a measured figure.

“Yeah I don't think it's a surprise, first game of the season,” he said. “I don't feel surprised about the performance.”

What bothered him were the lapses.

“Some of the chances we gave up when we weren't composed enough with the ball or intense enough with the ball were a bit frustrating because they've been so good at that in the build-up and stuff,” he admitted.

He pointed to the challenge posed by County’s approach.

“It was probably the first time we've played against a man-to-man press apart from Malaga in preseason. A lot of guys playing their first game for the club including the academy boys, first competitive starts in the league, and I thought they did brilliantly. I really enjoyed the first half.”

Later, speaking to reporters, Martin’s message mixed encouragement with a clear demand for growth.

“There's so much to work on and much to like as well,” he said. “We've got loads of learning to do and we'll be better for that, much better in fact.

“I loved the energy and the aggression in the team. We regained the ball so many times and I love the fight that shows and the togetherness too, so all of that was great.

“In the first half, I loved the amount of control we had and we were patient, we started creating gaps and we had to work hard for that because, make no mistake about it, this was always going to be a difficult game and a difficult place to come.”

Then came the shift.

“In the second half, we had to weather the storm a bit and, once we'd done that, we regained control. It was an amazing goal to score but then a little bit of anxiety crept in.

“The whole atmosphere in the stadium changed and that's a big lesson for us. If we don't look after each other with the ball, like we didn't towards the end, then it doesn't suit us.”

Grant strikes, County refuse to fold

That anxiety invited County back in. The home side sensed it, the crowd sensed it, and the pressure built again around McCarthy’s area.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 81 minutes.

Emile Acquah, off the bench and straight into the scrap, rose to meet a cross and saw his header thud against the post. The ball dropped loose in the six-yard box and Conor Grant reacted quickest, turning it home from close range to level the match.

County had their reward, and on the balance of play, it felt earned.

Martin Paterson, who led County up via the play-offs last season, walked off with mixed emotions: satisfied with the performance, frustrated by the result.

“I'm disappointed because we were at home, but I don't want that word 'disappointment' to be the takeaway from this,” the Notts County boss said.

“I've spoken to the group, which was a little bit quiet when I went in because they felt they had chances to win the game and I felt that was a fair reflection to be honest.

“They, Leicester, are a good team and they found some moments. But I thought we found as many moments as them.

“We created opportunities and we just didn't take them today, so that's where the disappointment comes from.

“But that's why we have a training field and the environment we are in welcomes those who want to improve themselves.

“For me, that was a really competitive performance against a really good team and are going to cause people problems all the way. But there's nothing wrong with holding ourselves to a standard either.”

For Leicester, it was a first glimpse of life under Martin: brave on the ball, aggressive without it, but still fragile when the temperature rises. For County, it was proof they can stand toe-to-toe with a relegated giant.

The opening day has already laid down a question for both clubs: who learns faster from a bruising draw that could easily have gone either way?