Russell Martin was disappointed with the goals Leicester City conceded against Peterborough United

Russell Martin has warned his Leicester City players they will be dropped if they fail to do their jobs on the pitch following the Foxes' 3-1 defeat to Peterborough United.

City were 3-0 down at half-time after an abysmal first 45 minutes display, with two defensive howlers gifting the visitors the lead before Warren O'Hora's unfortunate own goal effectively killed the game.

The defeat leaves Martin's side 17th in League One, just one point above the relegation zone after eight games. They face another potential banana skin this weekend with Doncaster Rovers visiting the King Power Stadium.

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Martin was visibly frustrated by his players' performance against Peterborough and insisted his team must start defending both boxes better. "We hurt ourselves again by the manner and quality of goals we conceded," he said.

"I said to the players, if a team has to work so hard for their goal, cuts us open and scores a brilliant goal, in football it happens sometimes, but the quality of goals we have conceded over the last few games is unacceptable.

"I'm really hurt by that because then you give away the first goal again in a game where you can get so much energy from scoring the first goal, especially after starting so well. But it's the same message, we're in their box way more than they're in ours. I think we create a lot more than they do, but they're really clinical and defend the box with everything they have and we don't.

"We're not clinical and we give up goals that are unacceptable, honestly, at any level. The goalie kicks it out of his hands and it bounces two or three times before anyone makes any contact. We have three players around it, they come out with the ball, it hits one and goes in, I think it's going way wide. It just seems to be the moment we're in.

"We have to take way more pride in what we're doing in both boxes."

Bade Aluko was at fault for the opening goal after allowing Owura Edwards inside too easily, before Luke Thomas switched off in City's box to allow Harry Leonard to make it 2-0. Individual lapses have cost Leicester this season, and Martin has issued a stern warning to his players.

He added: "There's no real flow to the goals we concede, apart from, in the final moment we let people inside to shoot and they're stronger for it. When we have an awareness of what players do, our players are prepared for what the opposition player wants to do. It's a non-negotiable rule for us to keep someone on the outside.

"And even if you give away a shot from there, the goalie has a chance, but you just let him inside - it's frustrating.

"So basically, what will happen is if you don't do your job, you don't play. It's the most simple aspect of the game at any level. If we do not do our job in both boxes, even how many times in the box and we're there, it's 4v3 and we don't make the right decision. But it's much harder when you're 3-0 down and you give away ridiculous goals to then make a good decision because of the feeling."

"The message to the players was stop hurting yourself and stop hurting ourselves. We'll have a chance because it's the same message as the other night. We get there relentlessly and we don't have to defend that much there. So when we do, you have to be so switched on. But everyone defends against us like it means everything and it has to for us as well."