FA Cup 3rd Round | 11th Jan 3:00pm | Pride Park
Leeds Utd head to Pride Park on Sunday to face Championship side Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup, but according to Daniel Farke, we shouldn't expect wholesale changes! The Elland Road boss made it clear during his pre-match press conference on Thursday that while he loves the magic of this “traditional cup,” but won’t jeopardise Leeds’ Premier League status in pursuit of a fairy-tale run. “The big priority this season is to stay in the Premier League, so we won’t risk any players,” Farke said. “We respect Derby and know it’s not realistic for a promoted side to aim for silverware, but we also believe that if you want to go far, you have to win the early rounds.”
Leeds’ trip to face Derby carries more spice than your average cup tie. The two clubs’ rivalry stretches back to the 1970s, when managerial greats Don Revie and Brian Clough locked horns, setting the tone for decades of tension. More recently, the infamous “Spygate” incident in January 2019 reignited bad blood. Marcelo Bielsa admitted sending a staff member to observe Frank Lampard’s Derby training session, earning Leeds a £200,000 fine and a new EFL rule banning clubs from watching opponents’ training 72 hours before a match.
Fast-forward to 2026 and both clubs are in very different circumstances. Leeds have navigated the challenges of life back in the top flight and currently find themselves battling to keep clear of the drop zone. Derby, meanwhile, suffered a poor start but have stabilised under John Eustace and now sit 13th in the Championship. Their home form has improved in recent weeks, suggesting Saturday’s hosts will not be pushovers.
Farke confirmed that Jayden Bogle, who has been instrumental down the right flank, will only feature if it is “not too risky.” Sam Byram remains a “little question mark” due to a back problem, but otherwise it “will more or less be the same group of players as for the last game,” he explained. Karl Darlow will get the nod in goal, with Lucas Perri dropping to the bench. On Perri’s recent mistakes, Farke was refreshingly candid: “Of course in the last few games Lucas had situations he could have saved and his decision-making wasn’t great. It’s better not to hide this fact and talk nonsense. You can’t just accept the applause when things go well and then pretend nothing happened when they don’t.”
Managing squad morale will be just as crucial as tactical tweaks. Joel Piroe and Jack Harrison, both struggling for minutes lately, will be eager to make an impact. Farke praised Piroe’s “finishing skills,” stressing their importance in games where Leeds dominate possession. Likewise, he lauded Harrison’s professionalism, adding, “When his chance comes, he has to use it and shine.”
Despite acknowledging a “tough run” of four games in ten days, the German coach insisted that cup competitions remain a vital part of a club’s identity. He may have one eye on survival, but Farke is not in the business of throwing away opportunities. “We know that against top sides we are capable of going to quarter-finals, semi-finals, even finals,” he said. “But every journey starts with the first step, and this weekend’s game is our first.” With historical grudges and current pressures converging at Pride Park, Sunday’s clash promises to be anything but a mere formality.
I always feel for the travelling fans when a team puts out their reserves and the team could do with a boost after Newcastle. Farke is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
