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Tony Bloom must hate Leicester City situation as Brighton action looms (View)

Tony Bloom, Russell Martin

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It has been a disappointing start to the season for Leicester City in League One.

After back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One, Leicester would have been hoping to make a fresh start in the third tier under new manager Russell Martin, but it has certainly not worked out that way so far.

Leicester City's poor League One start continues as Russell Martin pressure builds

Russell Martin

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After his nightmare stint at Rangers, it is fair to say that Martin was not a unanimously popular appointment among Leicester supporters this summer, and the 40-year-old is already coming under significant pressure from the fanbase.

Having already suffered humiliating home defeats to Burton Albion and Oxford United this season, it was another tough afternoon for the Foxes on their own patch on Saturday as they were beaten 3-1 by struggling Peterborough United at the King Power Stadium.

In their first game under new manager Robbie Savage, Posh established a three-goal lead before the break thanks to strikes from Owura Edwards and Harry Leonard, as well as Warren O'Hora's own goal, and while Emil Riis pulled one back for Leicester in the second half, it proved to be little more than a consolation.

After winning just two of their opening eight league games, the Foxes sit 17th in the League One table, only one point clear of the relegation zone, and many fans have made no secret of their desire to see a managerial change.

League One table (as it stands 12th October)

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

It remains to be seen whether Martin's position is under any imminent threat, but the Leicester hierarchy will no doubt be alarmed by the current situation, and Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom may also be concerned about recent events.

Tony Bloom will be worried about Tommy Watson, Harry Howell trend at Leicester City

Tommy Watson wins the Championship play-off final with Sunderland

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Leicester were widely tipped as the title favourites in League One going into the season, and while the size of the club and their recent Premier League history were both factors in that, their summer transfer business also increased the optimism around their prospects.

Among their summer deals, the Foxes completed a double raid of top flight side Brighton to sign winger Tommy Watson and attacker Harry Howell on season-long loans, but both have failed to make the expected impact at the King Power Stadium so far.

Watson has scored two goals in 11 appearances for Leicester this season, with both of those strikes coming in the 6-1 victory over Fulham U21s in the EFL Trophy, but he has started just once in the league in the 0-0 draw at MK Dons in August.

Despite no injury being reported in the build-up to the game, Watson was left out of the squad entirely for the defeat to Peterborough on Saturday, and his fellow Brighton loanee Howell has not fared much better in the East Midlands.

Howell has made one important contribution for the Foxes this season as he scored in the 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle last month to earn their first league victory of the campaign, but that remains the 18-year-old's only start in League One.

Huddersfield Town, Stockport County and Oxford United fans

Huddersfield Town, Stockport County and Oxford United fans

Tony Bloom may be weighing up Brighton transfer call in January involving Leicester City duo

Brighton owner Tony Bloom

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Watson made a name for himself when he scored a last-minute winner for Sunderland against Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley last year, but rather than making the step up to the Premier League with the Black Cats, he joined Brighton for a fee of £10 million in a move that had been agreed before the season ended.

However, after struggling to break into the Seagulls team, Watson spent the second half of last season on loan at Millwall in the Championship, but he provided just one assist in 12 appearances for the Lions.

Despite his underwhelming spell at The Den, many were surprised to see Watson drop into League One this summer with Leicester, but as he continues to be overlooked by Martin at the King Power Stadium, Brighton may already be contemplating recalling him in January.

After coming through the club's academy, Howell has made seven senior appearances for the Seagulls so far, scoring one goal and registering two assists, and he was even trusted by head coach Fabian Hürzeler to start against bitter rivals Crystal Palace in February.

Given how highly rated Howell is at the Amex Stadium, Brighton will be equally disappointed by his lack of game time with the Foxes so far, and Bloom could also decide to bring him back to the south coast in the winter window and find him an alternative loan destination.

As well as their limited minutes, Bloom may be keen to terminate Watson and Howell's loan spells at Leicester due to the increasingly toxic atmosphere at the club, which is only likely to sour further if results do not improve on the pitch.

Of course, it could be a beneficial experience for Watson and Howell to have to fight for their place with the Foxes as they continue to learn their trade in senior football, but, as things stand, it is difficult to see them finishing the season at the King Power Stadium.

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