Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

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Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

We head to Pride Park on Saturday for our first competitive clash with Derby County in eight years.

2025-12-02T09:00+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

02 Dec, 2025

Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

We head to Pride Park on Saturday for our first competitive clash with Derby County in eight years.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-02T09:00+00:00

Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

We head to Pride Park on Saturday for our first competitive clash with Derby County in eight years.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-02T09:00+00:00

Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

We head to Pride Park on Saturday for our first competitive clash with Derby County in eight years.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-02T09:00+00:00

Classic Derby Clashes – Through The Years

We head to Pride Park on Saturday for our first competitive clash with Derby County in eight years.

Sam Stevens

2025-12-02T09:00+00:00

Ahead of that Sky Bet Championship encounter, a 12:30pm GMT kick-off on Saturday, we've picked out some of our favourite moments from previous clashes with the Rams...

Old First Division Play-Off Final – Derby County 1 Leicester City 2, Wembley | 30 May, 1994

30 May, 1994 will forever belong to Steve Walsh. After two consecutive play-off heartbreaks, we returned to Wembley determined to not suffer a third. Derby struck first, though, as Tommy Johnson netted under the Twin Towers, but the Foxes had developed a resilience under Brian Little, fuelled by missing out beforehand. Walsh, our warrior centre-back, playing at centre-forward in the capital, met a deep cross shortly before half-time to power in the equaliser and shift the momentum. Then came the moment that defines the day: Ian Ormondroyd’s header was saved, the ball spun loose… and Walsh hurled himself at it to bundle home the winner. The Blue Army erupted. The final whistle unleashed pure catharsis - Leicester were finally up, finally over the line, and finally rewriting their own history. Although relegation would follow a year later, supporters still regard it as the day the Club’s modern era truly began; ready for Martin O’Neill to inspire a truly magical spell at Filbert Street.

Premier League – Derby County 0 Leicester City 4, Pride Park | 26 April, 1998

For supporters who travelled to Pride Park in April 1998, they could barely believe what was transpiring in front of their eyes. We produced one of our most complete away performances of the late 90s Premier League era, dismantling Derby 4-0 in a display full of power, purpose and confidence. Emile Heskey was unstoppable, stretching the Derby backline and leading the press that pinned the hosts deep inside their own half. Muzzy Izzet controlled the tempo, switching play and driving City forward, while Leicester’s wide options repeatedly opened the Rams up. By the time the fourth goal went in, only 15 minutes had passed, and the only sound inside Pride Park was the jubilant chorus from the away end. They were all headers too, with Heskey getting two, Izzet one, and Ian Marshall joining in on the act as well. It was a statement win, a performance that showed just how far O’Neill’s side had come. Many derbies are close, tense affairs. This one, mind you, was controlled, emphatic and delivered with a swagger which defined O’Neill’s tenure in charge.

Premier League – Derby County 2 Leicester City 3, Pride Park | 15 September, 2001

The 3–2 win at Pride Park in September 2001 had everything a derby should; goals, swings in momentum, and a dramatic, hard-earned victory for the Foxes. Leicester twice had to overcome set-backs, with both sides trading blows in a match that never seemed to settle. Dean Sturridge’s experience – and knowhow of his former team-mates – gave City a focal point to build around, while Izzet and Robbie Savage’s influence in midfield grew as the contest became increasingly stretched. We were behind early, Deon Burton getting the goal, but Sturridge hit back to make it 1-1. The second half belonged to Leicester’s belief. Pushing forward with intent, the Foxes were back in front, Sturridge again, but it all seemed to fall apart when Fabrizio Ravanelli equalised from the penalty spot in the 90th minute. Savage, though, won a City penalty even later and Izzet converted, leading to pandemonium in the Pride Park home end. The scenes at full-time, fists pumping from the players, noise rolling from the away end, summed up a classic and a debate would rumble on in the sports pages for days afterwards about what followed the full-time whistle. In a difficult season, in the final days of Peter Taylor’s tenure, this was a bright spark.

Old First Division – Leicester City 3 Derby County 1, Pride Park | 14 September, 2002

Leicester’s 3–1 win on Filbert Way early in the 02/03 season was a sign of the successes to come as City settled back in the old First Division. Micky Adams’ side were still forming their identity, playing at a new ground for the first time in 111 years, but this was a performance that hinted at the promotion push to come. Behind to Chris Riggott’s opener, there was work to be done. Izzet, who else, got one back for the home side before Brian Deane and Paul Dickov – that season’s reliable front-two – put us in the ascendancy. It was a mature, assured performance, the type of home win that builds momentum and fuels belief in a long second-tier season.

Championship – Leicester City 2 Derby County 0, Pride Park | 12 February, 2011

The 2-0 victory over Derby County in February 2011 came during a period when Leicester, revitalised under the management of Sven-Göran Eriksson, were beginning to gather momentum in the hunt for the play-offs. On a crisp afternoon at Pride Park, the Foxes produced a composed, clinical display to overcome their East Midlands rivals. City struck first through Yakubu, who showed exactly why he had been brought in on loan: strength, awareness and a calm, ruthless finish inside the area. The goal lifted the travelling Blue Army, allowing Leicester to control the rhythm of the match. In the second half, Andy King – enjoying the most prolific season of his career – doubled the lead with a beautifully timed run and assured finish. Derby struggled to find a way through City’s organised midfield and backline, and by full-time the Foxes faithful were in full voice, celebrating a derby performance built on discipline, quality and growing belief.

Championship — Leicester City 4 Derby County 1, King Power Stadium, 10 January 2014

We were in full flight when Derby visited in January 2014 and this 4–1 win was one of the most complete displays from Nigel Pearson’s Championship title-winning side. Ritchie De Laet set the tone with a brilliantly-taken opener, driving inside and finishing low across the goalkeeper. David Nugent then took over, scoring twice, including a typically calm penalty, to strengthen our grip on the game. Steve McClaren’s Derby, who were promotion contenders themselves, simply couldn’t cope with Leicester’s pace, pressing and intelligence in possession. Goalscorer Jamie Vardy’s relentless running unsettled the visitors all evening, and when the Foxes broke forward, they did so with devastating purpose. King Power Stadium was bouncing, sensing this was a side destined for the Premier League. The swagger, the speed, the confidence, it all came together on a night to savour.

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