Football rivalries are weird. Sometimes they’re born from proximity, like living next door to a loud neighbor. Other times, they’re forged in the fires of a specific, high-stakes moment that refuses to die. The Leeds vs Derby County rivalry is definitely the latter. Honestly, if you aren't a fan of either club, you might think it's just another mid-table scrap or a routine cup draw. You’d be wrong.
Just last week, on January 11, 2026, we saw another chapter written at Pride Park. It was the FA Cup Third Round. Leeds United, now finding their feet back in the Premier League under Daniel Farke, traveled down to face a Derby County side that’s been grinding away in the Championship. On paper? A routine top-flight win. On the pitch? It was anything but simple.
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Daniel Farke didn't send any spies this time. He didn't need to. But for the fans in the stands, the ghosts of "Spygate" were everywhere. Leeds showed up with eight changes to their lineup, clearly eyeing their Premier League survival battle more than a deep cup run. It almost backfired.
Ben Brereton Díaz, the Chilean international who seems to find a second wind every time he plays the Whites, put Derby ahead in the 35th minute. Pride Park was absolutely rocking. Just minutes before, Jacob Widell Zetterström—Derby’s Swedish wall in goal—had saved a Joel Piroe penalty. At half-time, you could feel the upset brewing. It felt like 2019 all over again.
But class eventually tells. Leeds didn't panic. Wilfried Gnonto hammered home an equalizer ten minutes after the break, and suddenly the momentum shifted. Ao Tanaka, who has been a revelation for Leeds lately, pounced on a rebound just four minutes later. By the time James Justin rounded off a counter-attack in stoppage time to make it 3-1, the Derby fans were heading for the exits, while the Leeds away end was singing about spying.
It was a classic Leeds vs Derby County encounter: drama, a missed penalty, a comeback, and enough needle to keep the commentators busy.
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Why This Rivalry Still Smells Like Binoculars
You can’t talk about these two without mentioning Marcelo Bielsa and Frank Lampard. That’s the law.
Back in 2019, the football world went into a literal meltdown because a Leeds staff member was caught with binoculars at Derby’s training ground. It was dubbed "Spygate." Lampard was furious. The media treated it like a Watergate-level scandal. Bielsa, in typical "El Loco" fashion, responded by holding a 70-minute PowerPoint presentation proving he already knew everything about every team in the league anyway.
It was peak entertainment.
Then came the playoffs. Leeds had beaten Derby three times that season. They were the better team. But in the semi-final second leg at Elland Road, the wheels came off. Derby won 4-2 (4-3 on aggregate). Frank Lampard and his players celebrated by mimicking binoculars with their hands. It was the ultimate "gotcha" moment.
The Deep Roots (The 70s Era)
While modern fans point to the binoculars, the older generation remembers the 1970s. This was the era of Brian Clough and Don Revie. Two of the greatest managers in English history who absolutely loathed each other's methods.
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Clough built a miracle at Derby, winning the league in 1972. He famously called Leeds' style of play "dirty" and "cheating." Then, in one of the most bizarre moves in sports history, Clough actually took the Leeds job after Revie left for the England post.
He lasted 44 days.
He walked into a locker room full of legends like Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter and told them to throw their medals in the bin because they’d won them by cheating. It was doomed from minute one. That 44-day disaster was so legendary it became a book and a movie, The Damned Utd. Ever since then, there’s been a deep-seated resentment between the two fanbases that transcends whichever league they happen to be in.
Breaking Down the Numbers
If you look at the head-to-head record, it’s remarkably close. Across nearly 100 meetings, the wins are split almost down the middle.
- Leeds United Wins: ~40
- Derby County Wins: ~34
- Draws: ~17
Leeds tends to do better at Pride Park (strangely enough), while Derby has a knack for pulling off results at Elland Road. In the last eight meetings, Leeds has actually won six. They’ve managed to shake off the playoff "curse" somewhat, but the matches are rarely boring. Both teams have a tendency to score—nearly 90% of their recent matchups have seen both teams find the net.
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What’s Next for Both Clubs?
Right now, the gap is widening in terms of league status.
Leeds United is currently fighting to stay eight points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. Daniel Farke has them playing a high-intensity game that's finally yielding results, like that recent FA Cup win. They have a squad deep enough to rotate stars like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson, which is a luxury Derby simply doesn't have.
Derby County, under John Eustace, is in a rebuilding phase. They are mid-table in the Championship, looking to find the consistency that haunted them in late 2025. They’ve got talent—Carlton Morris and the veteran Danny Batth provide a solid spine—but they lack the clinical edge that Leeds showed in their recent January encounter.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following this fixture or looking ahead to future meetings, keep these points in mind:
- The "Both Teams to Score" (BTTS) Trap: History says they both score. However, under Farke, Leeds has become much more disciplined defensively. Don't blindly bet on a shootout.
- Home Field Disadvantage: This is one of those rare rivalries where the away team often plays with less pressure. The home crowd’s anxiety in a Leeds vs Derby County match is palpable and often affects the players.
- The "Spygate" Hangover: Expect cards. Even seven years later, the "needle" in this game is high. Referees tend to reach for their pockets early to keep things from boiling over.
- Watch the Substitutes: In their last three meetings, a goal has been scored by a substitute after the 70th minute. Squad depth is usually where Leeds wins this battle.
Whether it’s the Premier League or the Championship, this fixture remains one of the "spiciest" in English football. It doesn't need a trophy on the line to feel like a final.
To stay ahead of the next meeting, keep an eye on injury reports for key playmakers like Ao Tanaka or Derby's Ben Brereton Díaz, as these individuals consistently dictate the tempo of this specific rivalry. Monitor the Championship table to see if Derby can mount a late-season playoff push, which could potentially set up a high-stakes league clash in 2027.