“Two moments of quality” from The Tractor Boys knocks out League One Foxes

Russell Martin’s Comments

When speaking to Leicester City’s media team, Russell Martin claimed that the Foxes were “the better team tonight”,

He said “two moments of quality” won the game and that it was closer than expected.

Adding “[We were] disappointed to lose, because I don’t think we deserved too”

Martin’s Leicester City side included 7 changes to the side that lost 2-1 at home to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Christian McFarlane made his debut for the club, with Jakub Stolarczyk back in the side. Harry Howell made his first start for Leicester and a new look centre half combination of Luke Thomas and Olabade Aluko.

Conor Chaplin started against his former employers after returning from injury and Woyo Coulibaly started amidst “a lot of interest” in the Malian fullback, confirmed by Martin post-match.

Prior to kick off it was clear that the Foxes travelled in abundance, something that Russell Martin commented on; “really grateful to the fans, even when we went behind, they were immense.”

🦊#LCFC | Russell Martin says he didn’t think his side deserved to lose tonight in the second round of the EFL Cup.

The Foxes were beaten 3-1 by Premier League side Ipswich Town.

🔗 https://t.co/Y84Ubdi0ID pic.twitter.com/Hpvm53qtz7

— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) August 25, 2026

First Half Review

As something that appears almost every match, City lost possession trying to pass out from the back, gifting a chance to Ipswich early.

Apart from that blip, Leicester looked immediately more confident on the ball, even with Luke Thomas starting centrally, who struggled with the possession-based football shown recently.

The backline that missed Harry Souttar and Caleb Okoli, looked more technical and able to pass under pressure.

They also fought harder after losing possession, when a misplaced pass was intercepted, the backline and defensive minded midfielders, looked to press quicker and regain the ball.

Olabade Aluko, my man of the match, stepped out of his defensive position numerous times, carrying the ball higher up the pitch, something that created a handful of chances early on.

After 5 minutes Tommy Watson had a powerful low effort saved by Christian Walton in the Ipswich net. Watson looked to catch out the experienced keeper with a powerful shot aimed in the bottom right corner.

Christian McFarlane played well on his debut, overlapping and making persistent runs, trying to get in behind the Town backline. He managed to get through onto a Louis Page through ball early and attempt to lift over the Ipswich keeper that failed.

Jakub Stolarczyk acted as a sweeper keeper and looked confident on the ball, which was highlighted previously as one of his weaknesses. The Polish goalkeeper commanded his box and punched out corners that were swung into the box.

Conor Chaplin hit a curled shot that tested Walton, a signature shot that was saved valiantly, tipped past the post.

A corner kick was awarded late in the half, something seen for the first time in a Leicester fixture since the rule was implemented for time wasting from Christian Walton, the resulting corner was narrowly headed over the Town crossbar by McFarlane, a let off for the East Coast side.

Second Half Review

The second half started as the first ended, very end to end. Although as Ipswich countered, it appeared that Woyo Coulibaly stepped up, attempting an offside trap.

Jack Clarke didn’t stray offside and drilled a pass into Sindre Walle Egeli who calmly dispatched upon the 62nd minute. Almost instantly after, Leif Davis found Chupa Akpom free inside the box, however he was smothered by Jakub Stolarczyk before he could extend the lead.

Tommy Watson had a low shot saved then followed in by Bobby De Cordova-Reid, producing a double save from Walton, the resulting corner was nodded goalward by Reid and pounced upon by Bade Aluko, converting and equalising on the 67th minute.

Academy graduate Bade Aluko's first goal for us 🦊#IPSLEI pic.twitter.com/SFHQH1z2Ou

— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 25, 2026

It looked like Bobby’s header had beaten Walton but was hammered home by Aluko.

It only took Ipswich 4 minutes to regain the lead. A sloppy pass from Coulibaly was intercepted by Walle Egeli, who found Akpom, laying it off to the oncoming Marcelino Nunez.

The Chilean strook the post with his shot, rolling across the goal line into the far side netting, Portman Road erupted and Woyo fell to his feet, from a mixture of fatigue and annoyance.

Nunez’s second goal was even more of a screamer. Fatawu Esque. Humphries tackled the tired Page, finding Nunez who strook a lofted shot, clipping the rolling ball over the backtracking Stolarczyk.

The 90+1 goal sealed the win for Town who proceed into the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Marcelino Núñez with a moment of pure magic 🪄 @IpswichTown #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/7PWaKtVPEw

— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) August 25, 2026

Man of the Match

Regardless of the goal I still believe Bade Aluko deserves the man of the match.

Slotted naturally in as a makeshift centre half, has the adaptability and mentality to be moved around and still look natural, calm on the ball and made mostly decisive decisions whilst passing out the back.

His position for the goal was exquisite, real fox in the box ability and made the last 10 minutes a lot more interesting. Would like to see him and the incoming Ilari Kangasniemi as a pairing.

Player and Manager Ratings

Jakub Stolarczyk – 6.5/10: Handful of decent saves, needs to be starting over McCarthy.

Woyo Coulibaly – 5/10: At fault for Ipswich’s 2nd goal, not looking as sharp as preseason.

Olabade Aluko – 7.5: Great positioning for the goal, looked solid, should be starting at centre half.

Luke Thomas – 6.5/10: One of his best performances in the past 3 years, slightly poor passing but looking better internal.

Christian McFarlane – 6/10: Decent debut, strong aerially. I liked it when he overlapped and created chances.

Louis Page – 6.5/10: Intercepted for the 3rd goal, played well apart from that, his passing ability is improving game by game.

Sammy Braybrooke – 6/10: Looked alright, covered a fair bit of ground, not influential in either box.

Conor Chaplin – 6.5/10: Handful of chances, miles ahead of Liam Cullen. Can see him scoring a lot in behind Bristric.

Harry Howell – 7/10: Looked good in his first start for the team, great dribbler but can tell he’s 18, Brighton have a wonderkid on their hands.

Tommy Watson – 7.5/10: A real handful, someone I’d like to keep a hold of if we get promoted. “Don’t fall in love with a loan player”

Admir Bristric – 6.5/10: Constantly making those runs, need someone to take a risk and play him in behind.

Liam Cullen – 5/10: Just not there, can’t be expected to play as a no. 9. A lot better playing in behind.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 5.5/10: Ghosts at times, got a rebound but rarely touched the ball, assist picked up, probably goes in if Aluko doesn’t touch it.

Jayden Joseph – 5.5/10: Didn’t see the ball much, got bodied by Akpom, only for Jakub to save his skin.

Wes Burns – 5.5/10: Carried the ball well, created a few small chances, didn’t really get into the game.

Will Alves – 5.5/10: Like Burns, played okay but didn’t get much.

Russell Martin – 7/10: Set the team out to play progressive football which worked well as Ipswich attacked us more often, subs still didn’t massively make sense, although fatigue or tiredness isn’t always obvious.