Russell Martin believes Leicester City answered their critics emphatically by beating Stockport County 4-3 in a seven-goal League One thriller on Saturday, a result that eases some of the pressure that had been building on the manager following a difficult start to the club's life back in the third tier.

Pressure lifted after rocky run

The win was only Leicester's second since returning to League One, and it came at a particularly important moment. Just seven days earlier, the Foxes had been thrashed 4-0 at home by Oxford United, a result that left them 18th in the table and prompted a wave of criticism directed at both the squad and Martin personally. The manager had spoken openly about how the scrutiny had "become really personal", making Saturday's response all the more significant.

"I loved how much fight, resilience and togetherness we showed," Martin told BBC Radio Leicester after the final whistle. "Everything we probably got questioned on last week, we showed that today. We have to be better, but also we played some brilliant football against a really good team. We have to show this level of togetherness, resilience and aggression all the time."

A contest that had everything

Liam Cullen, the Wales international who joined from Swansea in the summer, gave Leicester an early lead with his first goal for the club. Stockport, who had started the day third in the division after hammering Wigan Athletic 4-0 the previous weekend, levelled through Jack Diamond.

But Leicester responded forcefully. Emil Riis, who had arrived from Bristol City during the summer, netted twice to open his account for the club, and John Lundstram added a header on his Foxes debut to put the visitors 4-1 up with just over 50 minutes played. Martin had brought Lundstram, Warren O'Hara and Cullen into the side specifically to "add experience" to what is an increasingly youthful squad following a summer of significant squad restructuring.

Stockport refused to capitulate. Ollie Norwood and Kyle Wootton scored in quick succession to reduce the deficit to one, setting up a tense closing spell. Martin conceded that his side "ended up defending way too much" in the final stages, but they held on to take all three points.

Riis and Martin both point to character

For Riis, the manner of the victory was as important as the result itself. The Danish forward suggested it demonstrated that Leicester are capable of more than the possession-based football that had drawn criticism earlier in the campaign.

"We dug deep and fought as a team," he said. "That is what we needed last week and we showed that. We needed to fight more as a team, win second balls, do the dirty part of football as well. We can play beautiful football, but we also need to be a horrible team to play against and that is what we were talking about. We showed that at times."

Martin echoed that sentiment, highlighting the role the more experienced players had in helping the younger members of the squad through a demanding afternoon. "Just their voice, aggression and intensity really helped the young guys," he said. "We scored four goals and looked a real threat, so I'm really happy about that."

What it means for both clubs

For Leicester, the three points provide genuine relief after a start to the season that had raised serious questions about whether a squad rebuilt around younger, lower-cost players was ready for the demands of a third-tier promotion challenge. The win moves them away from the lower reaches of the table and offers a platform to build on.

For Stockport, it is a first defeat after an impressive opening to the campaign, though third place in League One remains a strong foundation. The manner in which they clawed it back to 4-3 will give manager Dave Challinor reason for confidence that his side's quality has not deserted them, even if the three points went to the visitors.

Both clubs will be back in action midweek as the League One schedule continues at pace.

Frequently asked

What was the score in Leicester City vs Stockport County?
Leicester City beat Stockport County 4-3 in a League One match on Saturday, 14 September 2026.
Who scored for Leicester City against Stockport?
Liam Cullen opened the scoring, Emil Riis netted twice, and John Lundstram added a header on his debut to give Leicester a 4-1 lead before Stockport fought back to 4-3.
Is Russell Martin still Leicester City manager?
Yes. Despite heavy criticism following a 4-0 home defeat to Oxford United the previous week, Russell Martin remained in charge and oversaw the 4-3 win at Stockport.