Derby vs Leicester kick-off, date & TV info
Date Saturday, December 6
Kick-off 12.30pm
Venue Pride Park, Derby
Competition Championship
TV ITV1 and Sky Sports Football
Derby and Leicester will meet in their first East Midlands derby for more than eight years when they clash at Pride Park in the Championship on Saturday lunchtime.
The Rams have emerged as surprise playoff contenders following a five-match winning run over the autumn, although two defeats in their last three have tempered those expectations slightly.
Promotion has always been the aim for Leicester, but the pressure is on Marti Cifuentes and his team following back-to-back defeats to Southampton and Sheffield United, a run that has left them in the bottom half of the standings and two points below Derby.
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Derby vs Leicester betting tips & predictions
Best bet
Over 2.5 goals
2pts 13-10 bet365
Player shots
Abdul Fatawu over 2.5 shots
13-10 Hills
Longshot
Derby to win 2-1
10-1 bet365, BoyleSports
Derby vs Leicester preview
These clubs had contrasting aims at the start of the season, with Derby having preserved their Championship status by a solitary point last term while Leicester were relegated from the Premier League.
However, with well over a third of the season gone, it is the Rams that currently look better positioned to mount a promotion charge, with John Eustace’s side having won six of their last eight games, scoring at least twice in five of those fixtures.
Derby have certainly solved some early-season scoring issues and even in the recent absence of 10-goal top scorer Carlton Morris, who is sidelined until the new year with an ankle injury, they have still been finding the net with regularity.
Leicester’s problems have been less about scoring goals – they have netted in four of their last five games – and more about conceding.
The Foxes have let in three in both of their recent defeats against Southampton and Sheffield United and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 games since remarkably shutting out runaway league leaders Coventry in September.
Leicester recorded successive wins against Norwich and Stoke before their recent back-to-back losses, but they are two of just three victories they have been able to celebrate in their last 14 games.
Where Leicester can draw hope is their impressive record when facing Derby, as they have only lost one of the last 11 meetings between the sides, winning nine of those games, although the most recent of those clashes came in the FA Cup in 2017.
Derby are perhaps the more likely team to win this latest East Midlands showdown, but given the scoring ability and questionable defensive work of both teams over recent weeks, siding with over 2.5 goals in the match might be the best bet.
Fatawu to let fly at will
Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu has scored three goals in 18 games this season, but that tally should perhaps be higher given the amount of efforts he has had towards goal.
Fatawu has attempted more than double the amount of shots of any other member of Leicester’s squad and his tally of 54 is also the third-most of any player in the Championship heading into this weekend’s action.
The Ghanaian had five shots on his own against Sheffield United last time out and the likelihood of him managing three or more on Saturday appears high.
Rams to edge past rivals
On current form and with home advantage, Derby are the more likely team to win this game. Four of the Rams’ last five matches have finished 2-1, three of which they have won, and that trend can continue.
Derby vs Leicester Bet Builder
Both teams to score
Both teams have scored in each of Derby’s last six games, while Leicester are without a clean sheet in 12, but they have managed to net in nine of those matches.
Leicester to have the most shots
Despite riding high in the top half of the table, Derby have attempted fewer shots than any other Championship side this season, with their tally of 152 being 79 fewer than Leicester’s total.
Ebou Adams to be booked
Derby have also picked up the most yellow cards in the division heading into the weekend (45) six of which have gone to midfielder Ebou Adams. In a combative derby, the Gambian may overstep the mark once again.
Pays out at 11-1 with bet365
Key stats for Derby vs Leicester
♦ Derby have won six of their last eight Championship matches
♦ Leicester have lost back-to-back games and have won only three of their last 14 matches
♦ The Foxes have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 games
♦ Both teams have scored in each of Derby’s last six fixtures
♦ Leicester have won nine and lost only one of their last 11 meetings with Derby
♦ The most recent head-to-head ended in a 3-1 win for the Foxes at the King Power Stadium in 2017
Derby vs Leicester betting odds
Sign up with Ladbrokes to bet on Derby vs Leicester in the Championship. Here are the latest odds for Saturday’s match.
MarketOddsDerby13-8Leicester17-10Draw21-10
Odds correct at time of publishing
Want more top football betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport’s tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.
Derby vs Leicester team news and predicted line-ups
Derby
Top-scorer Carlton Morris is Derby’s main injury absentee but Lewis Travis, Max Johnston and David Ozoh also remain sidelined. Rhian Brewster could return to the matchday squad after a recent hamstring issue.
Predicted line-up (3-4-3): Zetterstrom; Langas, Sanderson, Clarke; Ward, Clark, Adams, Elder; Brereton Diaz, Agyemang, Salvesen.
Subs: Nyambe, Beck, Nelson, Thompson, Weimann, Blackett-Taylor, Brewster.
Leicester
Leicester could be boosted by the return of first-choice goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk, who has missed the last five games with a groin problem, while young defender Ben Nelson looks to have shaken off his ankle complaint.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Pereira, Nelson, Vestergaard, Thomas; Soumare, James; Fatawu, De Cordova-Reid, Mavididi; Ayew.
Subs: Faes, Winks, Choudhury, Skipp, Monga, Daka, Carranza.
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FAQs for Derby vs Leicester
When is Derby vs Leicester in the Championship?
This East Midlands derby will kick off at 12.30pm on Saturday, December 6.
Where is Derby vs Leicester being played?
The match will take place at Derby’s home ground of Pride Park.
Where can I watch Derby vs Leicester?
Derby vs Leicester will be shown in full on both ITV1 and Sky Sports Football.
What is the match betting for Derby vs Leicester?
These rivals look hard to separate with Derby 13-8 to win and Leicester 17-10. The draw is priced at 21-10.
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