Gary Lineker has branded Leicester City vs Nottingham Forest as the East Midlands derby, while issuing a quick apology to Derby County.
It’s a view that will be widely disputed by both Derby and Forest fans, due to an intense rivalry between the two sides. Leicester are the third club in the East Midlands, and while there is a derby between the Foxes and Derby, many Reds' fans see Derby as the main rivals and vice versa.
Leicester’s promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2013/14 season means that meetings between Leicester and either Derby or Forest have been less frequent in recent seasons. Forest did though have a memorable meeting with the Foxes this season, the Reds coming out as 4-1 winners in the FA Cup at the City Ground earlier this year.
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The Rams' last game vs Leicester came in the FA Cup back in 2017, the Foxes coming out as 3-1 winners in the replay after a 2-2 draw at Pride Park. But it's the meeting between Forest and Leicester that has been named as one of the top ten derbies in the English Football League.
“The only derby that really matters, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands Derby,” Leicester’s own Lineker said on Match of the Day’s Top 10 podcast, before adding: “Sorry Derby.”
The Match of the Day presenter and former Leicester striker then added the reason that Derby weren’t involved in the debate. “It’s quite interesting in the East Midlands derby because you could have an argument about which is the derby in the East Midlands,” he added.
“I’ve gone with Leicester vs Forest because it involves Leicester but a lot of people in the East Midlands would say that Forest vs Derby is the East Midlands derby but obviously I’m involved in this so there was no way that was going to happen.”
He goes onto talk about that FA Cup meeting earlier this season. "Obviously it doesn't compare to the Manchester derby, the Liverpool derby or even the North London derby, but it matters to the fans." he said.
"Leicester played Forest in the cup recently and Leicester were pathetic that day, and Forest I have to say, played brilliantly, but it's nice to give these small clubs a little bit of joy occasionally!"
Forest will be hoping that the derby with Leicester will be a more regular occurrence in coming seasons. Steve Cooper's men are aiming to return to the Premier League at the end of this season.
