Leicester City 2-1 Derby County: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Leicester City 2-1 Derby County in the Championship on Monday, 29 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Leicester City beat Derby County 2-1 in a lively Championship clash at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes got off to a flying start when Bobby De Cordova-Reid slotted home in the 6th minute, assisted by Issahaku Fatawu, but Derby hit back quickly with Rhian Brewster equalising in the 9th minute thanks to Callum Elder’s pass. Leicester regained the lead before the break as Jordan James scored in the 41st minute, with Luke Thomas providing the assist, and they held on through a tense second half despite Derby’s pressure.

Coming off a mixed run with a recent home loss to Watford and a heavy away defeat to Queens Park Rangers, Leicester showed real grit to secure the three points and build on their win over Ipswich Town. Derby, who arrived on the back of three straight draws including against Birmingham City and Portsmouth, couldn’t find a way back despite their efforts. This result gives Leicester a boost in their push up the table, while Derby will rue missed chances in a game that could have gone either way.

Derby edged possession with 55% of the ball compared to Leicester’s 45%, suggesting they controlled more of the play, but both sides were evenly matched in successful dribbles at 33 each, pointing to some exciting individual battles. Corners were close too, with Derby taking four to Leicester’s three, yet the Foxes made more of their chances, recording two assists to Derby’s one, which helped them nick the win despite fewer opportunities.

Discipline-wise, Derby picked up two yellow cards late on, while Leicester had just one, and neither side saw red, keeping things competitive throughout. Both teams used all five substitutions, with Leicester making changes around the hour mark like Ricardo Pereira coming on for Hamza Choudhury at 51 minutes, and Derby freshening up later, such as Lars-Jørgen Salvesen replacing Ben Brereton Díaz at 67 minutes, but no injury-time goals or penalties swung the game in the end.

The match burst into life early with Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s 6th-minute goal for Leicester, set up by Issahaku Fatawu, only for Rhian Brewster to level things up for Derby three minutes later with Callum Elder’s assist. Jordan James then put Leicester ahead again in the 41st minute, thanks to Luke Thomas, and that proved the winner as the second half saw both sides make tactical tweaks. Leicester’s substitutions, like Aaron Ramsey and Silko Thomas coming on at 65 minutes for Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew respectively, added fresh legs, though Ramsey was soon replaced by Louis Page at 69 minutes alongside Jeremy Monga for Issahaku Fatawu.

Derby responded with their own changes, including Corey Blackett-Taylor replacing Rhian Brewster at 67 minutes and Andreas Weimann for Bobby Clark at 73 minutes, but yellow cards for Jordan James in the 83rd minute and Derby’s Kayden Jackson and Liam Thompson deep into stoppage time ramped up the tension without changing the scoreline. Ricardo Pereira’s entry for Hamza Choudhury at 51 minutes helped shore up Leicester’s defence, while Derby’s late swaps like Kayden Jackson for Callum Elder at 89 minutes couldn’t force an equaliser.

Leicester City lined up in a solid 4-2-3-1 shape, with players like Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan James pushing forward effectively in attacking roles, while partnerships such as Issahaku Fatawu and Luke Thomas created key chances through the midfield. Hamza Choudhury provided defensive stability before making way, and the setup allowed for dynamic play, highlighted by Jordan James’s goalscoring contribution.

Derby County set out in a 4-4-2 formation, relying on forwards like Rhian Brewster and Ben Brereton Díaz to lead the line, with Callum Elder offering support from the back that led to their equaliser. The midfield saw involvement from players such as Bobby Clark and Ebou Adams before substitutions, creating a balanced approach that kept possession but couldn’t break through Leicester’s defence late on.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Jordan James, who made a real difference for Leicester City with his goal in the first half, even if he didn’t rack up assists or key passes. His all-round display, including that crucial strike, stood out in a tight game, helping the Foxes secure the win despite picking up a late yellow card.

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Derby County (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Watford (H)
• Loss: 1-4 vs Queens Park Rangers (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs Ipswich Town (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Bristol City (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Leicester City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Birmingham City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Portsmouth (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Millwall (H)

Leicester City have just edged out Derby County with a 2-1 home win, moving them to 12th place on 34 points after a patchy run that included a draw at Bristol City and a victory over Ipswich Town but losses to Watford and Queens Park Rangers. They’ll look to build on this momentum in their next fixture against Sheffield United on 2026-01-01 at 17:30, with the Blades sitting 17th on 29 points, offering a chance to climb the table and pull further away from the lower half.

Derby County have just fallen to a 2-1 defeat away at Leicester City, leaving them 14th on 32 points following a string of draws against teams like Birmingham City, Portsmouth and Millwall, plus a win over Sheffield Wednesday. They face a tough test next against high-flying Middlesbrough on 2026-01-01 at 15:00, with Boro in 2nd on 43 points, so Paul Warne’s side will need to sharpen up to avoid slipping further and grab points in their push for mid-table security.

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