Leicester City booed off as Russell Martin insists sacking him is no quick fix after Peterborough humiliation

Leicester City supporters booed, chanted for the manager's dismissal and left early as the Foxes were beaten 3-1 at home by Peterborough United in League One — a result that left Russell Martin insisting there is 'no quick fix' and midfielder John Lundstram admitting the side is playing with 'anxiety' at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester are 17th in the League One table after eight games, following back-to-back relegations. Peterborough, managed by former Leicester captain Robbie Savage and without a league win in six before kick-off, led 3-0 at half-time through Owura Edwards, Harry Leonard and Warren O'Hora's own goal. Emil Riis pulled one back in the 68th minute, but by then some home fans had already left.

Rudkin breaks silence — but cannot comment on sale talk

Long under-fire chief football officer Jon Rudkin gave a rare interview to BBC Radio Leicester commentator Owynn Palmer-Atkin less than an hour before kick-off, after years of declining formal requests to speak about the club's fortunes. He addressed the heavy criticism aimed at himself and owner Khun 'Top' Srivaddhanapraba. BBC Sport has seen a sale brochure in which the club is on the market for more than £200m, but Rudkin said he 'cannot comment on speculation'.

McCarron: 'Totally convinced' Martin is right — then Posh run riot

Sporting director James McCarron, more than eight months after taking the job, gave his first interview at 14:45 BST. He backed Martin, saying he was 'totally convinced' the manager is the right man for the job.

'The central reason why we decide to appoint the manager is that we feel he can deliver a control-the-ball, dominate-territory style game with courage and intensity,' McCarron said. 'But that takes time when you do 30 transfers over the summer. You need to see things settle down before you start to see the consistency.'

McCarron felt the side 'should really start to take off'. Instead, when the clock ticked down to kick-off at 15:00 BST, there was no take-off. Owura Edwards put Peterborough ahead after just 12 minutes, Harry Leonard doubled the advantage and Warren O'Hora's own goal made it 3-0 at the break. It took Leicester 20 attempts on goal to finally pull one back through Emil Riis in the 68th minute.

Martin accepts the anger: 'I have to accept the personal stuff'

Martin, who has previously spoken about criticism becoming 'really personal', accepted the jeers, boos and shouts for him to be sacked as a hazard of the job after another damaging defeat.

'The chants are what they are, it is what it is and we have to keep our head down and work really hard,' he said. 'I have to accept the personal stuff because I'm in charge of the team ultimately, so it's my responsibility.'

He defended himself by adding: 'I'm as frustrated as any of them, but if you think changing a manager is a quick fix then I'm not sure that's ever the way.'

Martin's insistence on possession-heavy, passing football was again the focus of post-match analysis, but he turned attention onto his players by saying he wanted a more aggressive performance.

'You have to weather the storm at some point and you have to suffer in a game of football,' he said. 'Maybe for five or 10 minutes just be ugly, just be horrible and fight. Right now, when we have to suffer, we don't look like a team.'

Martin has won four of his 12 games in charge of Leicester across all competitions.

Piper: 'They have no respect for you mate'

Former winger and BBC Radio Leicester pundit Matt Piper questioned how much respect Leicester's players have for Martin after the performance and lack of reaction.

'He is saying turn the game ugly for 10 minutes and they have clearly not got that message on the training ground,' Piper said. 'And that has you question how is he delivering these messages? How is he communicating that to the group? Why are they not listening to him?'

With Savage — a player Piper featured alongside for the Foxes in the Premier League — getting his Peterborough side performing so well instantly, the Welshman's presence only made it look worse for Martin.

'When he wanted something to happen on the football pitch Robbie Savage was on the football pitch and he was driving the team from the sideline, he was delivering those messages,' Piper said. 'And that is when his team was winning. Russell Martin's team were losing and he's saying they are not doing the things he asked them to do, and he is turning around and shrugging at his backroom staff. I have to question if he is really giving those messages on the training ground because if that is what you want from your group and they are not listening to you, then they have no respect for you mate.'

Anxiety at home as Foxes search for identity

Only Luke Thomas and Bobby De Cordova-Reid from the side that drew with Hull City and condemned Leicester to relegation last season started against Peterborough. Martin turned to youth, with Will Alves and teenagers Louis Page and Olabade Aluko — relatively inexperienced academy graduates — all starting against the Posh.

Around them was vast experience: once-capped England international Alex McCarthy in goal, former Italy Under-21 international Caleb Okoli in defence and John Lundstram in midfield. Lundstram, who ended his loan stint with Hull last season by helping them earn Premier League promotion, spoke of the team playing with 'anxiety' at home.

That anxiety has been exacerbated by regular criticism after a slow start to life in League One, and the pressure on the club's hierarchy and manager shows no sign of easing.