Leicester Settles for Draw at Notts County in Season Opener

Russell Martin insisted Leicester will be “much better” for the experience after his new-look side were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Notts County on the opening day.

Leicester, relegated from the Championship last season and under Martin for a first competitive league game, led through a thunderous strike from Jayden Joseph but were pegged back late on by Conor Grant’s close-range finish.

County set the tone

County started as if they had a point to prove. They pressed high, snapped into challenges and forced Leicester into mistakes that betrayed a team still learning a new way of playing.

Ollie Cooper came closest in a dominant opening spell, seizing on a loose clearance from Alex McCarthy and rattling the crossbar. The warning signs were there for Leicester, who repeatedly invited pressure when they lost composure in possession.

Martin admitted those moments jarred.

“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,” he told Sky Sports. “They've been so good at that in the build-up.”

Still, he enjoyed much of what he saw in that first half. Leicester gradually settled, began to dictate tempo and, for spells, quietened a home crowd that had roared County on from the first whistle.

Joseph’s rocket, County’s response

The breakthrough arrived on 62 minutes and it was worth the wait. Joseph picked his spot from distance and hammered a right-footed drive beyond James Belshaw, the ball flying past the County goalkeeper before he could properly set himself.

It felt harsh on Martin Paterson’s side, who had carried the greater threat for long stretches, but it also reflected Leicester’s growing control after the interval. They had ridden out a spell of pressure and appeared to have the game where they wanted it.

Then the mood shifted.

Martin spoke of “a little bit of anxiety” creeping in once they went ahead. Passes that had been crisp and confident became rushed. The stadium sensed it, County sensed it, and the momentum swung back towards the home team.

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

The pressure finally told with nine minutes left. Emile Acquah rose to meet a cross and his header crashed against the post. Leicester froze. Grant reacted first, turning the rebound home from close range to secure a point that County’s performance merited.

Martin: lessons, energy and a man-to-man test

For Martin, this was a first competitive look at a squad still under construction, with several players making their league debuts for the club, including academy graduates.

“It was probably the first time we've played against a man-to-man press apart from Malaga in pre-season,” he said. “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.”

He was keen to stress the positives.

“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,” he added. “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.”

Still, the theme of “learning” ran through his post-match reflections.

“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.”

Paterson proud, but pushing standards

On the opposite bench, Paterson – who led County to promotion via the play-offs last season – walked away feeling his team had done more than simply hang on against higher-division opposition.

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

The dressing room told its own story.

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

County’s issue, in his eyes, was not creativity but ruthlessness.

“We created opportunities and we just didn't take them today, so that's where the disappointment comes from,” he said. “But that's why we have a training field and the environment we are in welcomes those who want to improve themselves.”

Paterson liked what the performance said about his side’s ceiling.

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

For Leicester, this was a reminder that reputations count for little once the whistle goes. For County, it was proof they can live with teams expected to challenge. The question now is which of them turns an opening-day statement into a season-long habit.