Leicester v Derby

Leicester 4

de Laet 25′ Nugent 48′, 60′ (pen) Vardy 64′

Derby 1

de Laet 59′ (og)

FT 90 +4
HT 1-0

By Owen Phillips BBC Sport at King Power Stadium

Leicester increased their lead at the top of the Championship table to seven points with a blistering attacking display and stylish victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Derby County.

Ritchie de Laet's fine individual goal rewarded City's early pressure and they could have led by five at half-time.

David Nugent's strike did make it 2-0 only for a De Laet own goal following a corner to give the Rams hope.

But Nugent's penalty and Jamie Vardy's strike sealed an emphatic win.

The margin of victory in a thoroughly one-sided promotion derby could and should have been far greater.

But having seen his side completely outplay one of the their main promotion rivals, Foxes boss Nigel Pearson is unlikely to be concerned.

A first half in which they wasted numerous chances was soon forgotten as they set about ensuring an eighth win in nine matches against the Rams with a clinical second-half performance.

Lloyd Dyer had the hosts' first chance, a fiercely struck shot that was parried away by overworked Rams keeper Lee Grant.

Matty James made a mess of a relatively simple sidefoot chance on the follow up but the respite was short-lived.

Derby showed a few brief glimpses of the intricate play that has so impressed and helped them to 10 wins from 14 league games under manager Steve McClaren.

Simon Dawkins dragged a shot wide and Jamie Ward almost got in on goal after a swift break.

But Leicester posed a much greater and more persistent threat, with their more disciplined 4-4-2 formation bringing plenty of joy out wide against Derby's midfield trio.

The direct running and sheer pace of Dyer was the standout feature of a brilliant attacking first-half display while the Rams also never looked comfortable against Leicester's lively front duo of Vardy and Nugent.

Vardy sent a clever first-time flicked effort just wide with the outside of his foot and Nugent was unlucky with an acrobatic effort that Grant did well to push away at his near post.

The pressure finally told 25 minutes in and the goal was full of quality. De Laet broke from right-back, beating two men and playing a neat one-two with Nugent on the way, before firing a fine low shot past Grant.

And the chances still continued to come.

Dyer had another powerful strike beaten away by Grant, and then the Foxes hit the bar twice in quick succession.

First Vardy was desperately unfortunate to see a strike from a tight angle hit the underside of the bar and bounce away to safety after Grant made a good save from Nugent's low strike.

And Liam Moore's towering header from a corner came back of the bar with Grant well beaten.

For all their dominance against a side who did not muster a shot on target but are the division's highest scorers, the lead was only 1-0 at the interval.

That changed almost immediately though and the home side side will feel they deserved the huge slice of luck that saw Nugent's shot rebound back off his legs and into the net.

The Rams brought on new loan signing Patrick Bamford and Mason Bennett up front and it helped bring their goal.

Bamford had a decent low strike blocked and from the corner that resulted the Rams dragged themselves sleeves back in to the game when Jake Buxton's header was turned into his own net by De Laet.

But their hopes of an unlikely fightback were immediately hit as the Foxes broke from kick-off and Nugent coolly netted from the penalty spot after Craig Forsyth fouled Vardy.

Nugent netted his second soon and Leicester cruised to victory with very few scares while the Rams were left to rue a missed chance to go second in the table.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Leicester City

01 Schmeichel
02 de Laet
03 Konchesky (Schlupp - 71' )
08 James
05 Morgan
18 Moore
24 Knockaert
04 Drinkwater
35 Nugent (Taylor-Fletcher - 83' )
09 Vardy (Wood - 80' )
11 Dyer

Substitutes

07 Hammond
10 King
15 Schlupp
22 Taylor-Fletcher
25 Logan
27 Wasilewski
39 Wood

Derby County

01 Grant
33 Wisdom
03 Forsyth
08 Hendrick
38 Keane
25 Buxton
19 Hughes
04 Bryson Booked
09 Martin (Sammon - 74' )
10 Ward (Bennett - 55' )
32 Dawkins (Bamford - 55' )

Substitutes

14 Eustace
17 Freeman
18 Sammon
20 Bennett
26 Legzdins
30 Bailey
35 Bamford

Ref: David Coote

Att: 23,140

Match Stats

Possession 50 50

Shots

25 9

On target

8 1

Corners

6 7

Fouls

16 14

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Leicester City 4, Derby County 1.

90:00 +3:01 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Leicester City 4, Derby County 1.

90:00 +2:03

Attempt missed. Will Hughes (Derby County) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andre Wisdom.

90:00 +0:15

Attempt missed. Chris Wood (Leicester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.