Derby County will get another go at the struggling Premier League champions as they make their way to the King Power Stadium after a feisty 2-2 draw between the two teams in the first leg. Leicester face a fight for Premier League survival, while Derby are hoping to push into the Championship promotion play-offs so this Cup clash may not be the primary priority for either side, but there was plenty of passion on show in the original tie between the teams and more of the same can be expected when the rivalry is renewed.
It is expected to be a high-scoring encounter with both teams not looking particularly convincing at the back lately. Derby have managed just one clean sheet in seven matches, while the Foxes have shipped 12 goals in their last five games.
The two teams played out an end to end game last time out and although Leicester City should have been considered as favourites, their current form and the chances that both will make considerable changes to the teams makes it a more even contest.
In the previous fixture, Craig Bryson put Derby ahead when he picked the ball up 25 yards out, surged past three Leicester defenders and fired the ball across Kasper Schmeichel with a slight deflection off Robert Huth. Leicester, who hit the post through Demarai Gray, looked as if they were heading out of the cup before captain Morgan headed home Gray’s corner to salvage a replay.
A late penalty appeal was turned down for the Rams as the ball hit Huth’s hand but the sides will now shift the focus back on the match tonight.
While current form makes it almost as equal, history suggests something else. Derby have lost eight of the last 10 meetings with Leicester in all competitions. County’s only win in that period came at home in March 2013 with a 2-1 victory under Nigel Clough. This was the only fixture from the FA Cup fourth-round matches to have ended in a draw.
TEAM FACTS
Derby County
- Derby have only lost three of their last 17 matches in all competitions (W11, D3) but those defeats have all come in their last five away games.
- However, they have lost just one of their last seven FA Cup away matches (W4, D2), after losing their previous five in a row.
- They have only gone further than the fourth round on one occasion in the last six seasons.
- The Rams’ win over West Brom in the third round was the first time they had beaten a team from a higher division in the FA Cup in 31 years.
