Leicester host Stevenage at the King Power on 31 October 2026 in a League One Matchweek 14 clash and there is no useful managerial head to head to draw on between Russell Martin and Alex Revell. Leicester sit 11th with 18 points from 12 games while Stevenage are 13th on 15 points from 11 and neither side has been consistent enough to push into the top half, which makes this fixture more about damage limitation than ambition. There is also some recent edge to it: Stevenage beat Leicester 2-1 in the EFL Trophy on 6 October and home supporters haven't forgotten. Leicester will want that result erased, Stevenage will want to prove it wasn't a fluke.
Leicester's last five reads W L W W L, including a 3-0 dismantling of Wigan Athletic on 27 October, though two losses in there mean questions remain. Stevenage have won and lost in alternating fashion - L W L W L - their latest a 0-1 defeat at MK Dons on 24 October and sustaining momentum across back to back games has been beyond them this season.
Russell Martin has a full squad available, whereas Stevenage are less fortunate: Luther James-Wildin and Dan Kemp are both doubts with knocks, leaving Alex Revell without a natural link between midfield and attack and with a personnel problem to solve at set pieces.
Leicester play a possession heavy game, averaging around 66-67% of the ball and building from the back through a 4-2-3-1 or similar shape. Will Smallbone and Page control the middle with Emil Riis as the striker asked to hold the line up front, while Harry Souttar organises the defence and Conor Chaplin operates between the lines in the space behind him. Leicester will need their wide players and their number 10 to find the gaps between Stevenage's midfield and defensive lines against a side that tends to sit off and soak up pressure.
Stevenage defend in two banks of four and look to release Magennis quickly when they win the ball, sometimes shifting to a 4-4-2 to get an extra body on Leicester's more dangerous wide player. Josh Magennis leads the attack with Michael Mellon in support, though Kemp's likely absence leaves Revell without a natural link between midfield and attack and reduces what Stevenage can produce in the final third. The Magennis Souttar aerial contest will be the most physical duel on the pitch if the game becomes scrappy, while Smallbone will need to win second balls and cut off distribution before Stevenage can set up quickly in transition.
There is a plausible scenario where Leicester keep the ball in Stevenage's half without finding a way through and Stevenage grow into the game by sitting deep and waiting. An early goal for the home side changes that equation entirely but if it stays goalless into the second half, Stevenage will look to run in behind a Leicester side pushing forward. Their defensive numbers this season suggest they are capable of keeping opponents at arm's length even when those opponents have most of the ball.
Set pieces may be Leicester's clearest route through. Souttar is their most dangerous option at corners and free kicks, a problem that grows when Revell must reorganise his defensive structure around two absentees.
0-0. Leicester will have most of the ball and will create the better chances but Stevenage already showed this season that they can frustrate them and with both injury doubts reducing Revell's options in advanced areas, neither side looks likely to take the risks needed to break the deadlock.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
