Sun 28 Dec - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 4mins
Derby County will be bidding to end 2025 on a high when they face Leicester City in their final Sky Bet Championship clash of the calendar year on Monday evening (7:45pm kick-off).
The Rams’ 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Boxing Day - achieved despite playing with ten men for more than 50 minutes of the contest - made it four matches unbeaten to leave John Eustace’s side perched in 11th position in the second tier.
Only the division’s top two sides - Coventry City and Middlesbrough - have claimed more points on the road than Derby (18) so far this season.
Standing in their way of further away day success will be Marti Cifuentes’ Leicester City, who sit a point - and three places - below the Rams prior to Monday evening’s contest, but they did run out 3-1 victors at Pride Park Stadium earlier this month.
The Rams will be roared on by another sold out away end of 3,287 supporters on Monday evening.
No further seats are to be made available. Fans without a ticket are advised not to make the trip to Leicester, as they will be unable to gain access to the stadium.
Ahead of the trip to King Power Stadium, Head Coach John Eustace offered his pre-match thoughts to RamsTV following the 1-1 draw at Birmingham City on Boxing Day.
Preparing to return to his former club, Derby defender Callum Elder also caught up with RamsTV following the Boxing Day draw in the West Midlands.
Back in the Championship following relegation last season, Leicester boast one of the division’s strongest squads, featuring the likes of Abdul Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi, Harry Winks and Ricardo Pereira.
Under new leadership in the form of ex-QPR boss Marti Cifuentes, the Foxes have experienced the ups and downs of the Championship so far - winning eight, drawing seven and losing eight in the opening half of the campaign.
Defeats away to Queens Park Rangers (4-1) and at home to Watford (2-1) in their previous two matches mean Leicester currently occupy 14th spot, although they remain just five points outside of the play-off places.
Without the firepower of Jamie Vardy, who switched the East Midlands for Serie A at the end of last season, the Foxes have been forced to elsewhere for their goalscoring threat. Midfielder Jordan James tops the charts with six this term, with the on-loan Rennes star notching the opener in the Boxing Day defeat to Watford.
Fatawu - who scored from inside his own half during the recent 3-1 home victory over Ipswich Town - Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid each have four goals to their name.
Cifuentes has also been keen to afford game time to homegrown talent. Goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, as well as defenders Ben Nelson and Luke Thomas, all started last time out, while the likes of Olabade Aluko, Jeremy Monga and Silko Thomas have all benefited from increased opportunities off the bench in recent weeks.
Rewinding to the final-ever meeting between the clubs at Filbert Street, the Foxes' former home, Derby ran out 3-0 winners in a Premier League clash in Leicester in February 2002.
Second half goals from Georgi Kinkladze, Branko Strupar and Lee Morris earned John Gregory’s side all three points in a fiercely fought contest on Filbert Way.
After both sides had a goal chalked off in the opening 45 minutes, the Rams sprung into life after the break, taking the lead through Kinkladze’s deflected effort from the edge of the area.
Branko Strupar marked his return from an 11-month injury absence to double Derby’s advantage from a similar angle, before victory was sealed by Lee Morris –-who bundled home Malcolm Christie’s centre.
Gavin Ward will take charge of Monday’s fixture, his fourth Derby match of the season.
He has previously overseen the Rams’ 1-1 draw at home to Charlton Athletic and the single-goal defeats to Oxford United (1-0) and Watford (3-2).
Ward has also officiated two of Leicester’s contests this campaign - trips to Preston North End and Southampton - both of which ended in defeat for the Foxes.
Ward has shown a total of 47 yellow cards and two red cards from his 15 matches across the EFL so far in 2025/26.
Graham Kane and George Byrne have been appointed as the Assistant Referees, while Edward Duckworth has been named as the Fourth Official.
Live audio commentary for all of Derby County’s first team matches in the 2025/26 season - both league and cup fixtures - is available to RamsTV Audio subscribers based both in the UK and internationally.
Information about RamsTV's Video Live Streaming and other services for this season can be found here.
Full match reaction will be available on dcfc.co.uk and the Derby County App shortly after full time, with highlights and a full match replay available from midnight.
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