A hard-fought 2-1 victory over East Midlands rivals Derby County offered only a temporary distraction for Leicester City supporters, with deep-seated anger towards the club's hierarchy continuing to cast a shadow over the King Power Stadium.
Goals Amidst Growing Discontent
First-half strikes from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan James secured three points for Martí Cifuentes's side, moving them to within four points of the Championship playoff places. The win completed a December double over Derby, following a victory at Pride Park three weeks earlier.
However, the sour mood amongst the home support was palpable. Chants of "sack the board" began in the 15th minute, alongside calls for technical director Jon Rudkin to leave. Banners, including one reading "King Power out", were displayed, reflecting fury at the club's decision to defer non-playing staff wages just before Christmas.
James Shines as Fan Sentiment Fragile
The match itself saw Leicester take an early lead when Abdul Fatawu beat Callum Elder on the right wing and crossed for De Cordova-Reid to sidefoot home in the sixth minute. Derby's Rhian Brewster – scoring his first goal since August – equalised after good work from Patrick Agyemang.
The winner came four minutes before half-time from the increasingly influential Jordan James. The Rennes loanee, now with seven league goals this season, ran onto a pass from Luke Thomas, shrugged off Liam Thompson, and calmly steered the ball past goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström.
Cifuentes praised the fans' vocal support during the game, stating, "That's the kind of atmosphere I love. The fans were very helpful for us and I'm pleased for them." Yet this goodwill remains fragile, with plans still in place for a fan boycott of next Monday's televised fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
Boardroom Decisions Fuel Fan Fury
The root of the discontent stems from the club's handling of staff wages over the festive period. An email from interim managing director Kamonthip Netthanomsak informed non-playing staff that wages due on 19 December were being "regrettably" deferred until New Year's Eve. The move reportedly created a foul atmosphere at the club's Christmas party.
Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha's absence from at least three recent home games has also seen his calls for unity fall on deaf ears. This off-field turmoil compounds on-pitch inconsistencies and the looming threat of a points deduction for past spending breaches.
For Derby, managed by John Eustace, the defeat ended a four-game unbeaten run. Eustace lamented a lack of quality in the final third, saying, "We need to show a bit more quality and belief... It's frustrating because we felt we could come here and win." The Rams are also missing the injured Carlton Morris until February.
Leicester finished the game in control, with Derby's Zetterström making a spectacular late save to deny his own captain, Ebou Adams. The Foxes now travel to Sheffield United on Thursday, but the focus for many supporters remains firmly on the actions of the board, not the results on the pitch.
