1994 Football League First Division play-off Final


The 1994 Football League First Division play-off Final was contested by Leicester City and Derby County at Wembley Stadium, London. Leicester City won the match by a scoreline of two goals to one, with Steve Walsh scoring both of their goals.

Summary

This was Leicester's third consecutive play-off final, having lost to Blackburn Rovers and Swindon Town in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and they again went behind thanks to a goal by Tommy Johnson on 28 minutes getting on the end of a Paul Simpson half-volley pass. However, Leicester pulled level four minutes from half-time after Gary Coatsworth's hanging cross was converted by Steve Walsh, despite the best efforts of Derby defender Paul Williams to clear the ball off the line. The goal proved controversial though, with Derby claiming goalkeeper Martin Taylor had been impeded by Foxes' striker Iwan Roberts. The game went on, with Derby largely dominating, and Leicester captain Simon Grayson was lucky not to be sent off on 60 minutes for a professional foul. However, Derby couldn't find a way through Leicester's five-man defence, and in the end, were made to pay for their inability to find the back of the net, as with six minutes left to play and extra-time looming, Ian Ormondroyd headed at Derby keeper Taylor from a Simon Grayson cross, only for Taylor to parry and Walsh to poke the rebound into the empty net, securing his and Leicester's second goal of the match, which ultimately proved to be the winner. The victory was Leicester's first at Wembley in 7 attempts.

Match details

Road to Wembley

Leicester City

Derby County