Leicester City ended 2025 on a much-needed high, securing a 2-1 victory over East Midlands rivals Derby County in a tense and eventful Sky Bet Championship clash at King Power Stadium on Monday night. The win snapped a run of disappointing results for the Foxes and offered a glimmer of hope as the club continues to grapple with inconsistency, injuries, and off-field uncertainty.
Heading into the match, Leicester City had endured a rollercoaster campaign in the English Football League Championship. Despite their struggles, the Foxes were only five points adrift of the playoff positions, a fact that’s almost hard to believe given their patchy form. Manager Marti Cifuentes had come under increasing pressure, with many fans expecting him to be shown the door by chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, commonly known as Khun Top. However, financial constraints have played a significant role in keeping the Catalan coach in charge, as reports suggested the club couldn’t afford to sack Ruud van Nistelrooy last season or bring in a high-profile replacement.
Derby County, on the other hand, arrived at the King Power on a four-match unbeaten run, having climbed above Leicester in the table since their 3-0 defeat to the Foxes at the start of the month. Head coach John Eustace made two changes from their Boxing Day draw with Birmingham City, restoring Ebou Adams and Dion Sanderson to the starting lineup. Adams took over the captain’s armband from the suspended Joe Ward, while club captain Lewis Travis made a welcome return to the bench after nearly three months out with a calf injury.
Leicester’s starting XI saw Hamza Choudhury return at right-back in place of Ricardo Pereira, joining a back line featuring Caleb Okoli and Ben Nelson at centre-back and Luke Thomas at left-back. Jakub Stolarczyk kept his place in goal despite recent criticism following a costly error in the loss to QPR. The midfield double pivot was once again manned by Oliver Skipp and Jordan James, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid operating just ahead. Out wide, Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi provided the width, while Jordan Ayew led the line in the continued absence of Patson Daka, who is on international duty with Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The match got off to a frantic start, with Derby’s traveling supporters creating a raucous atmosphere and their team piling on early pressure. Leicester, however, weathered the storm and soon found their rhythm. In the opening minutes, Stephy Mavididi’s overhit cross was retrieved by Fatawu on the right, who surged past two defenders and whipped in a low cross. De Cordova-Reid was left unmarked and made no mistake, turning the ball in to give Leicester a 1-0 lead.
Derby responded almost immediately. After a period of sustained possession, Elder was released down the left and delivered a low cross into the box. Brewster timed his run perfectly, latching onto the pass and firing a shot through Thomas on the line to level the scores. That goal extended Leicester’s unwanted record to 18 games without a clean sheet, a statistic that’s been a sore spot for the Foxes this season.
Undeterred, Leicester pressed forward and regained the lead before halftime. Derby were forced to go long under pressure, and Thomas rose highest to win the header. Picking up the second ball, the left-back launched a searching pass into space for Jordan James. The Welsh international shrugged off his marker and calmly slotted the bouncing ball past Derby keeper Zetterström, making it 2-1 to the hosts. James, who has been one of Leicester’s few bright sparks this season, notched his seventh goal of the campaign with that composed finish.
As the teams headed into the break, Leicester held a slender advantage. Their record when leading at halftime this season had been solid, with no losses in such situations, and the home crowd dared to hope that the trend would continue.
The second half saw Derby County ramp up the pressure, with Leicester’s defense tested time and again. Ben Nelson, in particular, stood out with a series of crucial blocks and clearances, earning the applause of teammates and supporters alike. Okoli, who had endured a torrid outing against Watford, showed commendable mental strength to recover and put in a much-improved performance.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Foxes. Injuries struck, with Aaron Ramsey forced off just minutes after coming on as a substitute, potentially aggravating a hamstring issue. Cifuentes was forced to reshuffle, bringing on Page and Monga for Ramsey and Fatawu, and later introducing Silko Thomas for Ayew up front. Ricardo Pereira also made his first substitute appearance of the season, replacing the injured Choudhury at right-back.
Derby continued to press, with Clark and Brewster both going close, but Leicester’s defense held firm. In the dying minutes, Andreas Weimann nearly snatched a dramatic equalizer for the Rams, but his shot from the edge of the box drifted just wide of the post. The Foxes survived seven minutes of added time, clearing their lines and restricting Derby’s chances to see out the win.
After the final whistle, there was a palpable sense of relief around King Power Stadium. Leicester’s victory not only halted Derby’s unbeaten run but also provided a much-needed boost heading into the January transfer window. With speculation swirling about potential departures—Wout Faes is rumored to be on his way out—the Foxes will hope that this result can serve as a springboard for a more consistent second half of the season.
For Derby, the defeat was a setback but not a disaster. The Rams had shown resilience in recent weeks and will take heart from their strong second-half showing and the return of key players like Lewis Travis. As for Leicester, while questions remain about Cifuentes’ long-term future and the club’s financial health, the win keeps them within touching distance of the playoff places and offers a rare moment of optimism in what has been a turbulent campaign.
As the calendar turns to 2026, both East Midlands sides will be eager to build on the positives and address their shortcomings. For now, though, it’s Leicester City who can celebrate a hard-fought derby triumph to close out the year.
