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

Dive into Ladbrokes’ 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 tight Championship clash at the King Power Stadium. The hosts took an early lead when Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored in the 6th minute, assisted by Issahaku Fatawu, but Derby hit back quickly with Rhian Brewster finding the net in the 9th minute, assisted by Callum Elder. Leicester regained the advantage before the break as Jordan James netted in the 41st minute, assisted by Luke Thomas, and they held on through a second half where Derby pushed but couldn’t equalise.

Coming off a mixed run with a win over Ipswich Town but losses to Watford and Queens Park Rangers, Leicester showed resilience to secure the three points and build some momentum. Derby, who had drawn three of their last four before this defeat, struggled to convert their slight possession edge into clear chances. The result leaves Leicester looking steadier after recent stumbles, while Derby will rue missed opportunities in a game that stayed competitive until the end.

Derby edged possession with 55% compared to Leicester’s 45%, suggesting they controlled more of the ball but failed to make it count in the final third. Both sides matched each other on successful dribbles at 33 apiece, pointing to an even battle in individual skill, while Derby had one more corner at 4-3, yet Leicester made better use of their attacking moments with two assists to Derby’s one. Discipline-wise, Derby picked up two yellow cards late on, against Leicester’s one, and both teams used all five substitutions, with Leicester making tactical changes around the hour mark to shore up their lead.

Leicester’s substitutions included Ricardo Pereira replacing Hamza Choudhury at 51 minutes, Aaron Ramsey coming on for Bobby De Cordova-Reid at 65 minutes followed quickly by Louis Page replacing Aaron Ramsey at 69 minutes, Silko Thomas replacing Jordan Ayew at 65 minutes, and Jeremy Monga replacing Issahaku Fatawu at 69 minutes. For Derby, Lars-Jørgen Salvesen replaced Ben Brereton Díaz at 67 minutes, Corey Blackett-Taylor replaced Rhian Brewster at 67 minutes, Andreas Weimann replaced Bobby Clark at 73 minutes, Kayden Jackson replaced Callum Elder at 89 minutes, and Lewis Travis replaced Ebou Adams at 89 minutes. No penalties or injury-time goals were recorded, keeping the focus on the first-half strikes that decided the match.

The game burst into life early with Bobby De Cordova-Reid putting Leicester ahead in the 6th minute from Issahaku Fatawu’s assist, only for Rhian Brewster to level for Derby three minutes later in the 9th, set up by Callum Elder. Jordan James then restored Leicester’s lead in the 41st minute with help from Luke Thomas, a goal that proved decisive as the hosts defended stoutly after the interval. Leicester’s substitutions around the 65th and 69th minutes, including Silko Thomas replacing Jordan Ayew and Jeremy Monga replacing Issahaku Fatawu, helped freshen their attack and midfield.

Discipline became an issue late on, with Jordan James booked for Leicester in the 83rd minute, while Derby’s Kayden Jackson and Liam Thompson both saw yellow in stoppage time at 90+6 minutes. Derby’s double change at 67 minutes, with Lars-Jørgen Salvesen replacing Ben Brereton Díaz and Corey Blackett-Taylor replacing Rhian Brewster, aimed to chase an equaliser but couldn’t shift the momentum. No red cards disrupted the flow, keeping it a hard-fought contest throughout.

Leicester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan James providing key threats in attacking roles, the latter scoring and forming a solid partnership with assist providers like Issahaku Fatawu and Luke Thomas. Hamza Choudhury started in midfield before making way for Ricardo Pereira early in the second half, while Jordan Ayew featured up front until Silko Thomas replaced him. The setup allowed for defensive stability, with changes like Jeremy Monga coming on for Issahaku Fatawu helping to maintain control.

Derby County set up in a 4-4-2 shape, relying on Rhian Brewster’s early goal and Callum Elder’s assist to drive their forward play, with Ben Brereton Díaz partnering in attack until Lars-Jørgen Salvesen replaced him. Bobby Clark contributed in midfield before Andreas Weimann came on as a substitute, while Ebou Adams held the centre until Lewis Travis replaced him late. The formation aimed for width, but late bookings for Kayden Jackson, who replaced Callum Elder, and Liam Thompson underlined a frustrated finish.

Jordan James earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match award for his pivotal role in Leicester City’s victory, scoring one goal in the 41st minute to secure the lead without recording any assists, big chances created, or key passes. His timely strike stood out in a game of fine margins, helping Leicester hold off Derby’s pressure. Starting the match, James also picked up a late yellow card but remained influential throughout.

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 beaten Derby County 2-1 at home, a result that boosts their mid-table position at 12th on 34 points after a patchy run including a win over Ipswich Town but losses to Watford and Queens Park Rangers. Their next match is against Sheffield United on 2026-01-01 at 17:30, with the opposition sitting 17th on 29 points, offering a chance to climb further away from the lower half and build consistency. A positive outcome could help Leicester push towards the play-off spots, given their recent ability to grind out results.

Derby County have just lost 1-2 to Leicester City away, leaving them 14th on 32 points after a string of draws against Birmingham City, Portsmouth, and Millwall, plus a win over Sheffield Wednesday. Their next fixture is against Middlesbrough on 2026-01-01 at 15:00, with the opposition in 2nd on 43 points, making it a tough test where avoiding defeat could steady their position and prevent slipping towards the relegation battle. Derby will need to rediscover their scoring form to challenge a high-flying side chasing promotion.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.