The historic rivalry between Derby County and Leeds United wrote its latest chapter today, Sunday, January 11, 2026, as the two sides battled to a tense 0–0 draw in the FA Cup Third Round. The result means the "Whites" and the "Rams" must do it all again in a replay at Elland Road to decide who moves on to the Fourth Round.
A sell-out crowd at Pride Park witnessed a match defined by high intensity and tactical discipline, but ultimately lacking the clinical touch needed to break the deadlock.
Match Summary: A Battle of Attrition
The afternoon began with a poignant tribute to club legend Terry Yorath, who passed away earlier this week. Both sets of players wore black armbands, and a minute’s applause rang out across the stadium for a man who represented both badges with distinction.
Once play began, Daniel Farke’s Leeds side—currently 16th in the Premier League—sought to assert their authority. Utilizing a high-pressing 3-4-3 system, the visitors dominated the early possession. Wilfried Gnonto and Noah Okafor were constant threats on the wings, but they found a resolute Derby defense led by Danny Batth and Eirik Langås difficult to breach.
Derby, sitting 13th in the Championship, grew into the game as the first half progressed. The Rams nearly found a breakthrough just before the interval when debutant Oscar Fraulo unleashed a stinging effort from distance, only for Karl Darlow to produce a brilliant fingertip save. The second half followed a similar pattern of cagey midfield play, with Leeds substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin coming closest late on with a header that shaved the crossbar.
Match Details & Final Lineups
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Final Score: Derby County 0–0 Leeds United
Venue: Pride Park Stadium, Derby
Attendance: 31,540
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Derby County XI (4-4-1-1)
Goalkeeper: Zetterström
Defense: Ward, Langås, Batth, Forsyth
Midfield: Brereton Díaz, Travis (C), Fraulo, Blackett-Taylor
Support/Attack: Clark; Salvesen
Leeds United XI (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper: Darlow
Defense: Bornauw, Bijol, Ampadu (C)
Midfield: Gnonto, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison
Attack: Okafor, Piroe, Nmecha
Key Talking Points
The Yorath Legacy: The pre-match tributes set a respectful tone for a fixture that has often been fiery. The shared mourning of a club legend momentarily united two fanbases with a long-standing "Spygate" fueled animosity.
Fraulo’s Impressive Debut: Derby’s new signing Oscar Fraulo, arriving from Borussia Mönchengladbach, was the standout performer for the hosts. His energy in the engine room provided the Rams with a much-needed spark in the absence of the injured Carlton Morris.
Leeds' Scoring Drought: Despite having 62% possession and 14 shots, Leeds failed to score for the second time in three matches. Farke’s decision to start Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha over top scorer Calvert-Lewin will likely be a point of debate among the traveling supporters.
What’s Next?
Because the FA Cup Third Round still utilizes replays in 2026, these two familiar foes will meet again at Elland Road on Wednesday, January 21.
Before the replay, Derby returns to Championship action against Luton Town, while Leeds faces a critical Premier League survival battle against Fulham.
