Football Dec 07, 2025

Derby County 1-3 Leicester City: Bobby De Cordova-Reid opener sets Marti Cifuentes' Foxes to memorable away victory

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Derby County 1-3 Leicester City: Bobby De Cordova-Reid opener sets Marti Cifuentes' Foxes to memorable away victory

A blistering first-half performance inspired Leicester to a memorable 3-1 Championship victory at East Midlands rivals Derby.

The Foxes delivered a clinical display to storm into a three-goal lead thanks to strikes from Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Oliver Skipp and Jordan James.

Derby pulled one back in the second half through Sondre Langas but the visitors held on for a win that eases the pressure on manager Marti Cifuentes.

It was a much-needed result after two defeats, while Derby have now lost two games in a row at Pride Park.

In the first league meeting between the teams since January 2014, Leicester went ahead in the eight minute.

Abdul Fatawu made a strong run from inside his own half before playing in James, whose clever pass set up De Cordova-Reid to finish clinically from 12 yards.

It got even better for the Foxes in the 15th minute when Derby failed to clear a corner and the ball bounced up for Skipp to volley home his first goal from six yards.

Leicester had the ball in the net again in the 23rd minute but Jordan Ayew's header from a free-kick was ruled out for offside.

But there was no reprieve for the hosts in the 31st minute when they failed to deal with another ball into the box - this time from Luke Thomas - and James was able to guide a volley past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Derby were all over the place at the back but they had a chance to reduce the arrears two minutes later when the ball broke to Joe Ward inside the box, but Jakub Stolarczyk touched his shot onto the underside of the crossbar.

But the away side were close to a fourth when Ayew cut inside and hit a low shot which Zetterstrom saved with his legs.

Not surprisingly, the Rams made two changes for the second half and pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Ward whipped in a free-kick from the right and Langas powered a header past Stolarczyk.

The goal changed the atmosphere inside the stadium and Leicester were coming under pressure for the first time in the game, with Bobby Clark firing over from the edge of the area.

The Foxes weathered the storm and regained a measure of control although Andi Weimann had a goal-bound shot blocked by Jannik Vestergaard in the closing minutes.

There was one more chance for Derby in added time when Ward swung over a corner which was met by Curtis Nelson but Stolarczyk produced a great save diving to his right.

Derby's John Eustace:

The first half was really disappointing. It's not acceptable really, especially when you go a goal down.

"I want to see a reaction and see positive body language and belief but I felt the boys just looked as if they were feeling a little bit sorry for themselves instead of rolling up their sleeves and get going again.

"That was disappointing. We were up against a quality team but nothing to fear and the first half is something we will have to look at.

"Second half was great, good character from the group and we tried to fight back but just couldn't get the second goal to make it exciting.

"I think at the moment, we are conceding goals where we are not making it difficult for teams so that's disappointing for me.

"We need organisation and that leadership on the pitch which we just haven't got at the moment.

"I need players to step up and organise and lead. We are missing three or four of those kind of characters at the moment but it's about the squad and the group."

Leicester's Marti Cifuentes:

"Every time we win a game, especially now we are in December, it's important that we build momentum on this.

"We also need to stay very humble because we play again on Wednesday and we need to prove ourselves again and to play at the level we need, but I saw a lot of things to be positive about.

"I saw a team that was 100 per cent committed and that's all that we ask.

"I think there is quality in the players which shows that when we do the basics and are 100 per cent switched on we can compete against anyone in this league.

"I understand pressure is part of the job, it's never about me, it's about the club, about the fans and I said from day one - I was very honest - that this would be a process that could take some time.

"I have a task, I know that the task at the moment is perhaps not the easiest, it can sometimes be difficult but I know what we are trying to build.

"It's a top result for us. (I'm) especially pleased for the players, credit to them and happy for the fans as well because they were helping us a lot during the second half.

"The first half was excellent, we understood really well what was needed in the game against a team that has been doing so well."

Tags:

football report id:534538

Share this article

Related Posts

Arsenal's win at Inter was big for belief – could the Gunners win Champions League AND Premier League?

Arsenal's win at Inter was big for belief – could the Gunners win Champions League AND Premier League?

Inter needed the points more. Arsenal took them anyway. Seven changes to Mikel Arteta's starting line-up and still they made it seven wins from seven....

Miron Muslic interview: Schalke coach on taking a sleeping giant top, not wanting possession and why football is a vampire!

Miron Muslic interview: Schalke coach on taking a sleeping giant top, not wanting possession and why football is a vampire!

Miron Muslic did not even have to wait for his first game in front of 62,000 supporters to appreciate the scale of what he had taken on as Schalke’s n...

Patrick Bamford interview: Striker on extending stay at Sheffield United, recent form and being out of the game

Patrick Bamford interview: Striker on extending stay at Sheffield United, recent form and being out of the game

"When you’re not playing football, life feels a bit out of sync."It has been a frustrating couple of years for Patrick Bamford, culminating in a campa...

Why finishing in top eight European places means Premier League sides avoiding a February fixture pile-up

Why finishing in top eight European places means Premier League sides avoiding a February fixture pile-up

Premier League clubs participating in Europe face ultra-congested fixture lists should they fail to finish in the top eight of their respective league...

Man City players refund supporters who travelled to Norway for their shock Champions League defeat at Bodo/Glimt

Man City players refund supporters who travelled to Norway for their shock Champions League defeat at Bodo/Glimt

Manchester City’s players will refund supporters who travelled to Norway for their shock 3-1 Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night.Ci...

Why Man City's shock Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt was very bad news for Pep Guardiola

Why Man City's shock Champions League loss at Bodo/Glimt was very bad news for Pep Guardiola

Manchester City's recent troubles continued after a shock on Tuesday, a defeat which spells trouble for Pep Guardiola for a number of reasonsApart fr...