Leicester's Championship Opener Ends in Draw Against Notts County

Leicester’s new era under Russell Martin began with a reminder that the Championship hangover will not clear overnight, as Notts County hit back late to claim a 1-1 draw and a point they fully merited.

At a noisy ground and against a side still buzzing from promotion under Martin Paterson, Leicester were forced to absorb long spells of pressure and, in the end, to accept that a promising performance came with a sting in the tail.

County on the front foot

Notts County started like a side determined to prove they belong at this level. They pressed high, snapped into tackles and forced Leicester into mistakes that betrayed early-season rust.

Ollie Cooper came closest during that opening barrage. When Alex McCarthy’s clearance dropped loose, Cooper reacted first and crashed a shot against the crossbar with the goalkeeper stranded. It was a warning and a statement in one swing of the boot.

Leicester, heavy favourites on paper and with a new manager trying to install a possession-heavy style, struggled at times to find rhythm against County’s man-to-man press. Martin later pointed out it was one of the first times his side had faced such an approach, and it showed in a few jittery moments playing out from the back.

Still, as the first half wore on, the visitors began to settle. They kept the ball better, drew County into longer defensive phases and started to find pockets of space. Martin said he “really enjoyed the first half”, and you could see why: Leicester’s control grew, the tempo suited them, and the game tilted, slowly, in their favour.

Joseph strikes from distance

The breakthrough arrived on 62 minutes and it was worth the wait. Jayden Joseph, one of several players making their first competitive league start for the club, stepped up with the kind of strike that can define an opening day.

Collecting the ball in space, Joseph drove forward and unleashed a fierce right-footed effort from distance. The shot flew past James Belshaw, who had little chance, and suddenly Leicester had the lead and, it seemed, the momentum.

It felt harsh on County. They had carried the greater threat early on and continued to punch holes in Leicester’s structure whenever they could turn the ball over. But the goal underlined the visitors’ quality and, for a spell, it looked like Martin’s side had ridden out the storm.

Leicester began to regain a measure of composure. They kept the ball, slowed the game, and appeared to have taken the sting out of County’s earlier intensity.

Then the mood inside the stadium changed.

Late twist as County hit back

Martin spoke of “a little bit of anxiety” creeping in after Joseph’s goal, and you could sense it. Passes that had been crisp became tentative. Leicester stopped fully looking after the ball. The crowd sensed vulnerability and County responded.

The pressure built again. Crosses, second balls, loose clearances – the game turned scrappy, exactly the kind of contest that suited the home side’s energy and belief.

The equaliser, when it came in the 81st minute, felt inevitable. Emile Acquah, off the bench and immediately involved, rose to meet a cross and powered a header against the post. Leicester failed to react, and Conor Grant, another substitute, pounced from close range to turn the rebound home.

County had their reward. A goal born of persistence, pressure and the refusal to let Leicester’s lead dictate the narrative.

They pushed again, chasing a winner that would not have flattered them. Paterson admitted he was “disappointed because we were at home”, but his players’ reaction in the dressing room told its own story: they believed they had enough chances to take all three points.

Lessons for Martin, belief for Paterson

For Martin, appointed after Leicester’s relegation from the Championship, this was a first competitive glimpse of a new project under real stress. He spoke openly about the flaws and the promise.

There was plenty he liked: the energy, the aggression, the way his side regained the ball “so many times”, and the control Leicester exerted for long stretches of the first half. He highlighted the togetherness and the fight, the willingness of a largely new group – including academy graduates – to embrace a demanding style.

There was also no attempt to gloss over the issues. He pointed to the chances Leicester conceded when they were neither composed nor intense enough with the ball. He underlined how the atmosphere turning late on affected his players, and how failing to “look after each other with the ball” does not suit the way he wants this team to play.

“We’ve got loads of learning to do,” he said, stressing that they will be “much better” for this experience. That learning curve will be steep. The Championship is unforgiving, and this was a reminder that opponents will not simply roll over because Leicester arrive with a big-club badge and recent Premier League memories.

Paterson, meanwhile, came away encouraged. He called it a “really competitive performance against a really good team” and refused to let the word “disappointment” dominate the post-match mood. County created chances, matched Leicester’s big moments with their own, and showed they are not content just to survive at this level.

He spoke about standards, about using the training ground to sharpen that final touch in front of goal. If this is the baseline for County, they will be more than just plucky underdogs this season.

For Leicester, the point is less important than the message: the style is clear, the effort is obvious, but the margin for error is thin. On this evidence, they will entertain. The question is whether they can turn control into ruthlessness before draws like this start to sting a lot more than they did on opening day.