Russell Martin has broken his silence ahead of what promises to be a compelling League One encounter between Leicester City and Oxford United. The Leicester head coach sat down with Radio Leicester to share his thoughts on a fixture that, given the recent fortunes of both clubs, carries plenty of meaning at this stage of the season.

Two clubs looking for momentum

Leicester have been through a turbulent opening stretch to their League One campaign. After a slow start that left supporters anxious and pundits questioning the direction of the club, Martin's side have shown signs of life in recent weeks, most notably recording their first league win of the season. For a club of Leicester's size and resources competing in the third tier, every three points matters enormously, both for confidence and for the promotion race that will define their year.

Oxford United arrive at this fixture in similarly mixed form. The U's have been trying to find consistency, having suffered setbacks including a 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield and a loss to the division's new leaders. Head coach Liam Ramsey has spoken openly about the need for full commitment from his squad, and Oxford will be eager to use this match to reassert themselves in the table.

What Martin is focused on

According to the Radio Leicester preview, Martin addressed the mood around the club ahead of the game. The "When You're Smiling" title of the broadcast suggests a degree of cautious optimism within the Leicester camp, a marked contrast to the scrutiny the manager faced just weeks earlier when questions over his position were being raised publicly.

Martin has consistently stressed the importance of building on positive results rather than allowing the squad to drift back into uncertainty. For a side that includes young and developing players alongside more experienced figures, that message of steady progress is central to how he wants to operate.

The League One picture

This match sits within a broader promotion race that is already taking shape in the third tier. League One is a division where momentum shifts quickly, and a result in either direction here could have a meaningful effect on both clubs' trajectories. Leicester, widely expected to challenge for automatic promotion given their stature, cannot afford to drop points at home. Oxford, meanwhile, will see a result against one of the division's bigger sides as a genuine statement of intent.

The xG metric, which measures expected goals by assigning a probability score to every shot based on its position and type, has pointed to Leicester creating chances without always converting them efficiently in the early weeks of the campaign. Turning those opportunities into goals more reliably is something Martin will have worked on in training ahead of this one.

A rivalry worth watching

Fixtures between clubs of the size and ambition of Leicester and Oxford have a habit of drawing strong attendances and intense atmospheres. Both sets of supporters will be travelling with hope and, in Oxford's case, a determination to prove that their difficult recent results do not reflect the squad's true ceiling.

For Martin, the challenge is straightforward: build on the positivity that has returned to the King Power Stadium in recent weeks and continue the momentum that finally got Leicester's League One season moving in the right direction. Oxford will do everything they can to stop that.

A 21-minute preview with Martin is available on BBC Sounds via Radio Leicester, recorded ahead of the 4 September fixture.

Frequently asked

When are Leicester City playing Oxford United in League One?
The fixture is scheduled for 4 September 2026, according to the Radio Leicester preview broadcast on BBC Sounds.
What has Russell Martin said about Leicester's recent form?
Martin has spoken cautiously but positively ahead of the Oxford United clash, suggesting improved confidence within the squad following Leicester's first league win of the season.
Where do Leicester and Oxford United currently stand in League One?
Both clubs have had inconsistent starts to the season. Leicester have been pushing for the promotion places expected of them, while Oxford have been working to recover from a run of difficult results in the third tier.