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

Kilmarnock 1-0 Hearts: League leaders drop vital points in title race with Rugby Park loss

Kilmarnock 1-0 Hearts: League leaders drop vital points in title race with Rugby Park loss

Leaders Hearts dropped three valuable points in the Scottish Premiership title race as they lost 1-0 to an inspired Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Michael...

Stoke City 3-1 Watford: Million Manhoef double steers Potters back to winning ways

Stoke City 3-1 Watford: Million Manhoef double steers Potters back to winning ways

Million Manhoef bagged a brace as Stoke ended a three-match winless run with a 3-1 victory over Watford.The Dutch winger found the net either side of...

Liverpool performance against Tottenham slammed by Jamie Carragher after draw hits Champions League qualification hopes

Liverpool performance against Tottenham slammed by Jamie Carragher after draw hits Champions League qualification hopes

Jamie Carragher has branded Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Tottenham as a "disaster" and castigated the performance of Arne Slot's misfiring side.Richarlis...

Chelsea 2-0 Man Utd: Women's League Cup glory secured thanks to Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones goals

Chelsea 2-0 Man Utd: Women's League Cup glory secured thanks to Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones goals

Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones scored to secure Chelsea a 2-0 win over a poor Manchester United as Sonia Bompastor's side retained the Women's Le...

Max Dowman has been compared to Lionel Messi by John Terry - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

Max Dowman has been compared to Lionel Messi by John Terry - Paper talk and football transfer gossip

The top stories and transfer rumours from Monday's newspapers...PREMIER LEAGUEMax Dowman has been compared to Lionel Messi by John Terry - who hailed...

St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: Tuur Rommens goal moves Gers to within three points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts

St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: Tuur Rommens goal moves Gers to within three points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts

A nervy Rangers moved to within three points of leaders Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a drab 1-0 win over St Mirren at the SMiSA...