How we scored the players as Leicester City produced an awful performance and Marti Cifuentes took plenty of stick in a 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Oxford
17:12, 24 Jan 2026Updated 17:34, 24 Jan 2026
Oxford United’s Mark Harris (right) scores their side’s second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match at the King Power Stadium(Image: )
The King Power Stadium turned mutinous in front of the Leicester City chairman as an awful afternoon ended in a 2-1 defeat to Oxford United.
Fans chanted “sacked in the morning” and “we want Marti out” at manager Cifuentes as City conceded once in each half to their relegation-threatened opponents and looked clueless as to how to threaten in attack.
Chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha was present for the first time in two months and so saw the awful atmosphere first hand.
The result leaves City in the bottom half and while the deficit to the play-offs remains at five points, many more supporters will be considering the nine-point gap to the drop zone after such a performance.
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Oxford arrived for their first-ever game at the King Power Stadium having failed to score in their first two games under new manager Matt Bloomfield.
But inside five minutes, they had the lead. Myles Peart-Harris’s long throw was flicked on by Ciaron Brown and Sam Long escaped the attention of Louis Page at the back post to finish from close range. It extended City’s run without a clean sheet in the Championship to 23 games.
Perhaps worse than conceding so early was City’s response. They looked utterly devoid of ideas in how to break down Oxford.
They had 76 per cent possession in the first half but only had six touches inside the Oxford box, the same number the visitors managed at the other end.
Their one decent chance came five minutes before the break when Ricardo Pereira’s cross was deflected back out to Hamza Choudhury, who blazed over first time with his left foot.
City were perhaps fortunate not to be two goals down at the break. Just before the whistle, a simple floated corner was nodded in by Peart-Harris, but Mark Harris was judged to have fouled Jakub Stolarczyk in the process.
Oxford had more chances to double their lead at the start of the second period as Ricardo Pereira deflected Stanley Mills’ effort just over and then Peart-Harris slid a shot just wide.
It took until midway through the second half for City to create a chance of note, Abdul Fatawu flashing a shot across the face of goal.
It looked like that might be the start of a period of City pressure. But they were then caught throwing too many men forward. Brian De Keersmaecker played the ball to Harris, who streaked forward alone, rounded Stolarczyk and finished.
City did manage to inject some drama into the closing stages when Abdul Fatawu scored with five minutes to play, bending in after a corner was kept alive.
But there was no big final chance for an equaliser and boos inevitably followed the final whistle, as well as a spat between Stephy Mavididi and an Oxford player. Here’s how we scored the players.
Jakub Stolarczyk: He looked uncomfortable with the ball at his feet and uncomfortable coming for crosses all afternoon. He flapped at deliveries and was perhaps fortunate to get a free-kick for the disallowed goal. Rounded easily by Harris for the Oxford second. 3
Ricardo Pereira: He was slow under pressure early on, but City looked at their best in attack in the few moments he was able to get forward and beyond Fatawu. He made one good block to deny Mills too. 5
Caleb Okoli: He lost the first header for the opening goal and looked a little clumsy when defending counters in the second period. On the ball, he offered little. 4
Jannik Vestergaard: There were some nice passes and some great long balls, but more so that were too ambitious. He mostly recovered when he made defensive mistakes, but offered nothing when thrown up front late on. 4
Ben Nelson: He didn’t get chance to advance forward on the ball like he did at Wrexham, but defensively he was reasonable, using his body well at times to shield the ball out of play and win his 50-50s. If his sub was tactical, it was harsh. 5
Hamza Choudhury: On the ball, he did little but play short sideways or backwards passes, while he also lacked composure to keep it at times. He offered minimal protection for the defence too. 3
Louis Page: He did at least look confident in asking for the ball. But he lost Long for the first goal, his set-piece delivery was poor, and he was naive to give away cheap free-kicks at times. 4
Bobby De Cordova-Reid: He was slow to show for the ball and not where City needed him, in the pockets, when they did get close to the Oxford box. His best moments came when running to the flanks, but even then he offered little. 3
Abdul Fatawu: City’s best player. He did try to commit men and use his pace to get down the wing. There wasn’t much end product until he curled in to set up a potential dramatic finale. 6
Jordan Ayew: Did not provide anything positive for City in attack, his first-time passes often heavy when the ball was pinged into him. The only time he looked like getting in behind, he was way offside. 3
Stephy Mavididi: He was probably City’s best player in the first half, showing lovely control to bring down one long ball and cross well. He did attack his full-back whenever he could, but he received no support and was often crowded out. 5
Luke Thomas: Did fine on the ball, and set up the Fatawu goal, and wasn’t too bad defensively either. 5
Jeremy Monga: He showed great speed and delivered a wicked low cross that was begging to be converted in his best moment, but couldn’t get on the ball often enough after that. 5
Patson Daka: He definitely offered more than Ayew did, but still not a great deal, and miscued a header near the end. 4
Silko Thomas: Was only on the pitch for a few minutes. N/A
Boubakary Soumare: Didn’t have long enough to make an impact. N/A
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