A December win over old rivals usually brings warmth. At the King Power Stadium, it brought relief, a little joy, and a lot of unresolved anger. Leicester City beat Derby County again, completing a seasonal double, yet the mood around the ground remained uneasy, pulled between three precious points and deep frustration with the club’s leadership.
Leicester’s 2-1 victory did just enough to steady the football side. Off the pitch, the noise refused to fade.
Goals arrive early as tension hums in the stands
The match itself started with intent. Leicester were sharp early, pushing the ball wide and testing Derby’s back line. The breakthrough came through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who struck in the first half to lift the home end, briefly.
Derby responded through Rhian Brewster, whose equaliser quietened the crowd and reminded Leicester of the fragile ground they’re standing on this season.
Then came the moment that decided it.
Four minutes before the break, Jordan James found space and finished calmly, a goal that would prove enough. It was his second against Derby this season, a neat personal double wrapped inside a team result that Leicester badly needed.
The applause, though, was hesitant. Some cheered. Others folded arms.
Festive cheer meets boardroom fury
By the quarter-hour mark, chants of “sack the board” rang out. Soon after, banners appeared, one blunt message reading “King Power out.” The targets were clear, especially technical director Jon Rudkin, whose position has become a focal point for supporter anger.
This wasn’t sparked by league position alone.
Supporters remain furious over how club staff were treated in the days before Christmas. Wages due on December 19 were delayed, with an email from interim managing director Kamonthip Netthanomsak informing employees, “regrettably,” of the situation. The timing cut deep.
For many fans, that crossed a line. Football results matter, but people matter more.
The resentment has been simmering for weeks. Monday night simply gave it a stage.
Cifuentes gets breathing space, nothing more
For manager Martí Cifuentes, the win offered a pause after back-to-back defeats. He spoke warmly of the support from the stands, choosing gratitude over confrontation.
“That’s the kind of atmosphere I love,” he said afterward. “The fans were very helpful for us and I’m pleased for them.”
Still, even he seemed aware that goodwill is thin.
Leicester now sit four points outside the playoff places, a gap that can be closed quickly in this division. Thursday’s trip to Sheffield United looms large.
Yet plans are already in place for a fan boycott of next Monday’s televised clash with West Bromwich Albion. Results alone won’t cancel that.
A stadium unsure how to feel
What made the night strange was the emotional whiplash. Leicester scored twice, but the ground never fully relaxed. When James put the hosts ahead, the reaction was split. Cheers mixed with groans. Applause fought with protest.
It’s rare to see a stadium unsure whether to celebrate a lead.
Supporters want success, but many feel they’re being asked to ignore wider issues. For them, doing so feels dishonest.
Derby, to their credit, kept pushing. They stayed competitive until late on, forcing Leicester to defend deeper than they would have liked. The visitors lacked the final punch, but they exposed Leicester’s nerves more than once.
Context matters more than the scoreline
On paper, a double over Derby should sparkle. Rivals beaten twice. Points banked. Momentum restored.
In reality, it landed in a season clouded by mistrust.
Leicester’s ownership and board face a fanbase that feels dismissed and disrespected. The delayed wages episode hardened opinions that were already turning sour. Football results, even positive ones, now arrive filtered through that lens.
One supporter summed it up outside the ground: “I’m happy we won. I’m angry it’s come to this.”
That contradiction defines Leicester right now.
Where this leaves Leicester
The Championship remains open. A short run of wins can change everything. Leicester have the squad to challenge, and players like James are showing they can handle pressure moments.
But the relationship between club and crowd is strained.
Unless there is movement off the pitch, every home game risks following the same pattern: early hope, loud protest, uneasy applause.
Monday night’s victory mattered. It lifted a sour mood, briefly.
Whether it can do more than that depends on decisions made far from the touchline.
