Derby 1, Leicester 3, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report, Championship fixture

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The line-up was changed. Ben Nelson was back, so was Jacub Stolarczyk. Starts for Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Wout Faes and Patson Daka were on the bench. Harry Winks not in the match squad.

The Leicester team needed to lay down work to get a positive change from the last two games played. The response from the players was more than we could have asked for.

A great start to the game did see Leicester take the lead after just 8 minutes. A good short pass from Jordan James found Bobby De Cordova-Reid inside the penalty box. The Jamaican international made a direct shot on the floor, in it went.

Leicester looked very composed and in a shape we have not seen them this season. It was nice to see this happening. Then in the 15th minute it was time for the next goal. Harry Skipp following up from a corner, hammering the ball in the net from close range. Fantastic to see him scoring his first goal, it was fabulous.

Then in the 28th minute Jordan Ayew headed the ball in the net. Looking at it in replay this situation was highly questionable. Sadly the referee signalled for an offside, but we believe it was from it. Leicester should have been 3-0 up.

31 minutes played when it exploded again. Jordan James made it 3-0 with a splended finish. He made the most from a Luke Thomas pass, finishing it all from close range. Fantastic to watch this, Leicester were great again.

A big W at Pride Park 😍#DERLEI | @BCGame pic.twitter.com/AURqXXRvmD
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 6, 2025

To be 3-0 up at half time is a seldom affair. Leicester were so dominant. You start to wonder how this can just happen.

Derby made two substitutions at half time, and in a way that changed the shape of it all. As a home team in a local derby, your team need to respond after such a first half. It must have been a nightmare for their manager, John Eustace, to watch what was going on.

John Eustace got his positve reacton in the 63rd minute. A cross from Joe Ward found Sondre Langaas, placing his header perfectly behind Jacub Stolarczyk. Derby had their eyes on more.

New substitutions made. Hamza Choudhury coming on for Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Derby also making changes at the same time, this was in the 66th minute. From this on towards the end of the game Leicester just fell down to defend. Different Leicester players made a number of blocks. Jacub Stolarczyk was in goal. These actions made it difficult for Derby to get anything more.

Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes also gave minutes to Silko Thomas, Patson Daka, Olabade Aluko and Louis Page. All of them fighting well towards the end and contributing to a special win away.

Jacub Stolarczyk was again vital for Leicester with brilliant shot stopping. Great to see him back in action. He got a knock towards the end, but believe this will not result in anything serious. Stolarczyk also got in a bit of a quarrel at the final whistle blow, but it all calmed down.

Great to see the team back on winning ways. The first half was just brilliant. Leicester are now 14th in the table, just three points from the play-off positions.

Positives
- A brilliant first half, with three brilliant goals scored
- Marti Cifuentes managing to get a clear positve response from two nightmare results
- Jordan James, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Oliver Skipp scoring
- Doing changes and giving as many players as possible a chance to be part of this great win
- The use of Oliver Skipp and Jordan James both playing to their best strengths
- Ball possession, just 39%, shows that possession not always is the answer to win games
- The start of the game was fantastic, the best for a long long time
- Jacub Stolarczyk back in the team with a top performance
Negatives
- Not really managing to keep it all up to standards second half
- Being pushed so hard by Derby towards the end
- The quality level and changes in play second half shows that there are still a lot to work with

Line Up:
Stolarczyk 8, Pereira 7, Thomas 7, Vestergaard 7, Nelson 8, Skipp 8, James 8, Reid 7, Ayew 6, Mavididi 7, Fatawu 6, Subs: Choudhury, Thomas S, Aluko, Daka, Page