Russell Martin bemoans Leicester’s lack of ruthlessness at both ends of pitch

Leicester boss Russell Martin admitted his team had been punished for showing a lack of ruthlessness during their 2-2 draw with Stevenage.

Despite twice taking the lead against Alex Revell’s side, City were forced to settle for a point when Tugra Turhan celebrated his league debut for the visitors with an eye-catching finish during the closing stages.

On-loan from Istanbul Basaksehir, the Swiss-born Turkey Under-19 international combined with fellow substitute Chem Campbell to sweep home past Alex McCarthy.

Sammy Braybrooke netted his first senior strike after just 67 seconds to give Leicester the lead and, after Ben Broggio’s equaliser, Kamari Doyle restored the hosts’ advantage in the 66th minute.

Martin felty City would have taken more from the contest had McCarthy not spilled a cross into Broggio’s path for the equaliser and Turhan been afforded too much space in the box for his 78th-minute leveller.

“I guess the lesson is we have to be more ruthless in both boxes,” Martin said, after watching Emil Riis go close three times before Turhan netted.

“There’s going to be so much brilliant stuff to show the lads when we come back in for training on Monday but the message is we can’t be conceding goals like that. The goals we let in were just so avoidable.

“Alex has been brilliant for us the last few weeks. He’s been so good so that just is what it is.

“The second goal was worse in my opinion, because it should have been cut out and we didn’t mark in the box.

“It’s not a problem we’ve had all season. The problem we did have in the past was defending on the transition but that wasn’t the case out there, because the lads were so locked in.

“It’s literally an isolated moment.

“So the plan is to score more and show more ruthlessness at either end of the pitch.”

Revell, who praised Stevenage’s resilience against “very good opposition”, joked he would fine Turhan for marking his first-time strike with a somersault because “we’ve got enough injuries as it is.”

Revell said: “I’m really proud because the lads, even with so many out, went about their work with courage, with purpose and with bravery. That’s everything this group of players is about.

“But I thought we showed some really good stuff, too. We knew we’d have to defend because they are getting into their stride now. We showed that commitment.

“We’ve always been intrigued with the foreign market, even though we’ve never really gone into that before, which is how we got Tugra.

“He’s with an agency we’ve worked with and are close with, which is how the opportunity arose.

“There’s qualities about him we really like, such as his pace. There’s also a real durability about him as well, and he wants to get involved.

“He’s been great and he wants to learn and he wants to develop. He doesn’t expect to play every week, which is great too. But after that, he might.”