Monday night’s East Midlands derby carries both history and consequence. This fixture marks the 100th league meeting between Leicester City and Derby County.
A rivalry that stretches back more than a century and has largely played out across the top two tiers of English football. Leicester hold the historical edge, with thirty-two league victories, and more than half of those encounters have come in the second division.
This latest chapter arrives at a crucial moment for both clubs. Leicester City sit 14th in the Championship, five points off the play-off places, while Derby County are 11th, four points adrift of sixth-placed Bristol City and one point ahead of the Foxes.
Derby travel south, protecting a four-game unbeaten run, while Leicester are looking to stop a slide after successive defeats either side of Christmas.
There remains off-field uncertainty surrounding Leicester, with the possibility of a points deduction still hanging over the club following spending breaches linked to their promotion two years ago.
Despite that backdrop, the Foxes continue to chase an immediate return to the Premier League and retain a squad packed with Championship quality.
Derby head coach John Eustace, however, will arrive at the King Power with a clear plan, intent on ensuring his side are competitive and capable of returning home with a result.
Leicester’s campaign has lacked consistency. From twenty-three matches, they have recorded eight wins, seven draws, and eight defeats.
Recent form has been particularly frustrating, with four losses in their last seven outings, including back-to-back defeats to Watford and QPR. Home form has been an issue too, with just sixteen points collected at the King Power so far this season.
Derby’s record tells a steadier story. Eustace’s side have matched Leicester’s overall return of eight wins but have drawn more often, leaving them with eight draws and seven defeats.
While Pride Park has not always yielded rewards, Derby have thrived on the road. Their haul of eighteen points from eleven away games is the third-best return in the division.
The Rams have not lost since a 3–1 defeat to Leicester at the start of the month and arrive in a confident mood. That result was also their first meeting in almost nine years.
Historically, Derby have struggled in this fixture, failing to beat Leicester since March 2013, with the Foxes winning five of the last six encounters.
Despite injuries, Eustace has taken encouragement from his midfield options. Liam Thompson and Bobby Clark impressed again in the Boxing Day draw with Birmingham, prompting glowing praise from their manager.
“You look at the performance Thommo again, and he was outstanding in that midfield against some really top performers that Birmingham have got in there,” Eustace said. “He is an academy graduate and has been very good since I have been at the football club. He goes about his business in a really good positive way.”
He added: “To have him and Bobby Clark, who’s a number 10 playing as a double six with him, the work that the boys are doing is fantastic, really.”
Mindset and Focus
For Leicester boss Martí Cifuentes, recent results do not change his outlook. Every game, he insists, carries equal importance.
“It doesn’t matter if you come from a good win or a defeat,” Cifuentes said. “The next game is always the most important of the season for me and the main focus. It does not matter if it is game week three or forty-five.”
Aware of the rivalry and encouraged by the recent win at Pride Park, he added: “We know about the rivalry between the teams. We got a good result against them a few weeks ago, and we want to repeat that, with a similar scoreline.”
Eustace echoed that sense of readiness. “Their commitment is there every day,” he said. “Home and away, the lads are ready.”
Reaction and Consistency
Cifuentes admitted disappointment with Leicester’s latest performance, feeling fine margins proved costly.
“We asked the players to show a strong reaction, and that’s why we are all disappointed,” he said. “It was quite a tight game, but unfortunately we got punished for details and situations we should cope better with.”
Consistency, he stressed, remains non-negotiable. “Consistency is extremely key; in the way we train and in the way we perform. You show it through your performances, and at the end your performances will make the results.”
Eustace shares a similar view, praising the progress he has seen despite inevitable setbacks. “It’s important that we can see progression,” he said. “I’m really proud of the players’ efforts throughout the season so far.”
Setbacks, Vision, and Support
Both managers acknowledged challenges along the way. “We’ve had lots of ups and downs already this season,” Eustace said, “and the way we’ve come back from those setbacks has been really pleasing.”
He remains focused on the long-term picture. “This is a long process, not a short process. We are here to build over the next two to three seasons and beyond.”
Cifuentes, meanwhile, accepted that Leicester’s current position is not good enough. “We are not in a position in the table that we are happy with,” he said. “What we are doing now is not enough.”
Addressing supporters directly, he added: “I understand that the fans can be angry at the moment. We want them to understand how important it is to push together. As long as the commitment and accountability is there, I think they will be on our side.”
Leicester remain without Harry Souttar, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Patson Daka is away with Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jordan James, who has scored six goals in nineteen appearances, is expected to start again in midfield, with Jordan Ayew leading the line.
Defensively, Wout Faes has dropped down the pecking order and may not even make the matchday squad after five consecutive games as an unused substitute.
Ben Nelson and Jannik Vestergaard have been preferred when fit, while Caleb Okoli returned straight into the side after recovering from a knee injury.
Vestergaard, who missed the Watford defeat after a head knock at QPR, has returned to training and could feature.
Asked about Faes’ situation, Cifuentes said: “We take the decisions every week that we think are the best to win the next game. Wout is a very good player, an international player. I cannot predict what is going to happen in the window.”
Derby travel without Joe Ward, suspended after his red card against Birmingham.
Owen Beck (hamstring), David Ozoh (thigh), Lewis Travis (calf), and Max Johnston (hamstring) also remain sidelined. Travis and Johnston have returned to training but are unlikely to feature.
“I don’t think so,” Eustace said when asked about their availability. “Trav’s been out for 11 weeks. He has trained twice up to now. He actually wanted to start, so I have had to calm him down a little bit.”
Carlton Morris, Derby’s leading scorer, has been out since suffering an ankle injury against Watford in November and is not expected back until February. Dion Sanderson returns after being ineligible last time out.
Leicester City:
Stolarczyk; Pereira, Nelson, Okoli, Thomas; James, Skipp; Fatawu, De Cordova-Reid, Mavididi; Ayew
Derby County:
Widell Zetterström; Langås, Sanderson, Clarke; Forsyth, Thompson, Clark, Elder; Brewster; Brereton-Díaz, Agyemang
Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester)
One of Leicester’s most reliable attacking outlets, Issahaku has four goals and six assists this season.
His direct running, pace, and ability to isolate defenders make him a constant problem down the right.
Patrick Agyemang (Derby)
Agyemang’s physical presence and work rate have underpinned Derby’s attack. With five goals and three assists, he remains a key focal point.
Derby County’s away form has been impressive, and Leicester City’s recent struggles make this difficult to call.
The Rams arrive in good shape and with confidence, while the Foxes are searching for a response.
A tight contest looks likely under the lights at the King Power.
Kick-off is at 7:45 pm, with live coverage on Sky Sports+.
