Harry Souttar says Leicester players must own Oxford collapse

Leicester City captain Harry Souttar said the players must accept responsibility after a 4-0 home defeat by Oxford United in League One. BBC Sport reported that Saturday's result was the club's worst league loss at that level of the English game, with Leicester never previously beaten by four goals while playing so far down the divisions.

The defeat brought immediate criticism from supporters and intensified scrutiny of head coach Russell Martin. Former Leicester forward Matt Piper called it a sackable performance during his analysis for BBC Radio Leicester. Martin's possession-heavy approach has also come under pressure, but Souttar directed the blame toward the team rather than using tactics as an explanation.

Souttar told BBC Radio Leicester that Leicester could not give themselves a chance without competing for duels, tackles and headers. He said the team played some acceptable football in the first half but failed to match Oxford physically, despite the issue being raised at half-time. The defender described that competitive work as the minimum standard and acknowledged that Leicester had fallen below it.

The performance came only days after Leicester recorded their first league victory of the season against Plymouth Argyle. Souttar said the players had hoped to build on that display but did not do so against Oxford. He promised that the squad would review the moments it needed to handle better and try to respond in its next fixture.

Leicester's reshaped side included five starters under the age of 22. In defence, Souttar played in front of experienced goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and alongside Luke Thomas, 20-year-old Jayden Joseph and teenage Manchester City loanee Christian McFarlane. The club turned to a younger group following the summer departures of several established players, including Harry Winks, Jannik Vestergaard and Jordan Ayew.

Souttar has remained with Leicester after the club suffered consecutive relegations, despite reported interest from Championship teams Sheffield United and Wrexham following his appearance for Australia at the summer World Cup. He had made only five Leicester appearances across the previous three seasons, a period that included 16 months recovering from a knee injury sustained while on loan at Sheffield United. Now captain under Martin, he said the players would face their failings directly.

Leicester's next match is away to Stockport County on Saturday. Stockport sit third in the table and enter the fixture after a 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, giving Leicester an immediate test of Souttar's call for a stronger competitive response.