Up for the Cup: Derby v Leeds

From the title clashes and that ITV Calendar interview in the ‘70s, to spy-gate and Jack Marriott’s brace off the bench. Derby County versus Leeds United is a fittingly storied fixture for the world’s oldest cup competition.

Other than the thrilling spy-gate crescendo, though, battles with The Whites have often been a stain on Derby’s fixture list of late. They have won just three of the 12 clashes between the sides in the past decade.

Indeed, the last time Derby beat Leeds at Pride Park was in October 2016: Johnny Russell scored the only goal of the game to get Steve McClaren’s second spell as manager off to a positive start.

But with the new year, comes a chance to turn over a new leaf, and the chance to leave United damned to defeat.

Under John Eustace, The Rams are a well-drilled, resilient side, winning games with little possession and struggling when teams let them dominate the ball.

The two most recent games are case in point. Against Middlesbrough, Derby rode their luck.

They had just 33 per cent possession and survived 19 shots on their goal to start 2026 with three points thanks to Bobby Clark’s first league goal of the season.

Against Wrexham, by contrast, The Rams edged the battle for the ball. But the script was far from Hollywood-worthy.

Ben Brereton Díaz’s first goal since the reverse fixture was positive, but an uncharacteristically poor day from Sondre Langås and his defensive colleagues was costly, with the Norwegian gifting the ball to Matty James, who stunningly found the top corner from range.

Trends from both of those fixtures were present the last time Leeds came to Pride Park. Derby were dominated, amassing a measly 0.17 xG, but were undone by a goal of real quality from The Peacocks (you’d forgotten they’re nicknamed that too, right?)

From this point came a downwards spiral, the first of eight consecutive defeats that cost Paul Warne his job and prompted Eustace to be ushered in.

The former midfielder may be a good omen here, too. He started in two home fixtures against Leeds for The Rams, as they won 3-1 and 2-0 in October 2013 and December 2014 respectively alongside Craig Forsyth.

Despite his players having a couple of “deserved” rest days following the gruelling festive schedule, some rotation is still likely tomorrow.

In his pre-match press conference, Eustace talked up new arrival Oscar Fraulo, who has “looked really good” in training.

He explained that the Danish midfielder is “certainly ahead of schedule” in his fitness programme after playing just 40 league minutes this season for Borussia Monchengladbach, adding: “hopefully we can give him some minutes.”

It could be a good opportunity for captain Lewis Travis to make his first start since September, too, having played half an hour against Wrexham. Crystal Palace loanee David Ozoh was also referenced as “a player back to help the group”.

These midfield reinforcements should allow Bobby Clark to continue in a more attacking role, after learning a defensive midfield role “on the job. That may be as a number eight or 10 in a 3-4-2-1, or as “an eleven” as Eustace puts it, in the 4-4-2 he has deployed on a couple of recent occasions.

“He's maturing into a really nice footballer now and he's learning the other side of the game,” Eustace told me recently.

Up front, could there be a chance for striker Lars-Jørgen Salvesen? He is the biggest aerial threat available with Carlton Morris’ long-term injury, which could be particularly important if Derby are looking to be direct.

But despite that glaring absence, for the first time in a while, Derby should have the advantage over their opponents fitness-wise: Leeds having played a thrilling 102^nd-minute 4-3 defeat at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Boss Daniel Farke has spoken of his “love” for “this traditional cup”, ambitions of reaching the latter stages, and “respect” for Derby, suggesting he’ll field a fairly strong team. He may not risk Rams academy graduate Jayden Bogle, though.

While neither side are the force of the Clough and Revie days, the locking of horns (or feathers in Leeds’s case, I guess) is still a tantalising prospect.

So, as the travelling fans pack their binoculars, the faithful flock cue Joy Division.

A first Premier League scalp under Eustace would be all the sweeter against an old enemy.