Leicester City suffered the heaviest defeat in the club's third-tier history on Saturday, crashing to a 4-0 home loss against Oxford United that has intensified scrutiny on manager Russell Martin.
The Foxes fell apart in the second half, shipping three goals in a disastrous 20-minute spell at home, a result that stands as an all-time low point in the 142-year story of a club that won the Premier League title in astonishing fashion back in 2015-16.
Expectations were high that Leicester would breeze through League One this season following back-to-back relegations, but life under Martin has proven far tougher than many anticipated. While the season remains in its early stages, concern is mounting among supporters and observers who watch the club closely.
Former Leicester player and BBC Radio Leicester summariser Matt Piper was blunt in his assessment of the performance and Martin's tactical approach. "This manager doesn't seem to want to move away, at all, from the pass them to death, that's how we will win a football match," Piper said. He acknowledged the merits of possession-based football when executed well, but stressed the importance of adaptability. "I'm also an advocate of winning football matches and you can do that in many different ways. We have only seen one way from this manager. My fingers are pointing at him this afternoon, even though the team didn't play well."
Piper went further, suggesting the nature of the defeat raised serious questions about Martin's position, even if he stopped short of calling for immediate action. "I don't think the manager should get sacked tonight, but that is a sackable performance," he said.
The pressure on Martin has been building among sections of the Leicester fanbase, who voiced their frustration audibly during Saturday's collapse. The manager fielded a notably youthful side, with five players under the age of 23 in the starting XI, including two teenagers, and all five substitutes brought on were aged between 18 and 23.
The make-up of the squad reflects a club in the midst of significant upheaval. Leicester have seen double-digit transfers in and out since their relegation from the Premier League, and the club itself remains up for sale, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already turbulent period.
Speaking after the match, Martin pointed to his side's lack of experience as a contributing factor, though he was careful not to use it as a justification for the scoreline. "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," he said. He added that the club needs to find greater consistency moving forward: "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."
Martin also praised the efforts of those around the club despite the setback. "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," he said.
Whether Martin will be given further time to turn things around remains uncertain. Piper noted that Leicester's history of managerial changes adds weight to speculation over the head coach's future, saying the scale of Saturday's defeat resembled the kind of result that has previously cost managers their jobs at the club.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.