Derby County 1 Leeds United 3: Whites come from behind as Willy Gnonto stars in comeback FA Cup win — YEP 11/1/26

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By Kyle Newbould

Leeds United progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with victory at Pride Park.

Leeds United kicked off their 2025/26 FA Cup campaign with a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Derby County on Sunday.

Second-half goals from Willy Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and James Justin booked the Whites a place in the fourth round draw after Ben Brereton Diaz opened the scoring for Derby. A much-rotated Leeds side struggled to get going but improved after the break and were deserving of their victory.

Noah Okafor had the first decent opening of the game inside 10 minutes after Gnonto’s break down the right. His into the box was diverted to the Swiss international whose curled attempt from 20 yards flew over.

Defender Craig Forsyth then had Derby’s first real chance, meeting a deep out-swinging free-kick between Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw but heading wide. Corey Blackett-Taylor then had an effort deflect into the hands of Karl Darlow as the home side improved.

Leeds had a great chance to go ahead from the spot when Lukas Nmecha was brought down by Derby goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom on the half-hour mark. But Joel Piroe’s effort was at a good height and palmed away.

And that miss was punished almost instantly, with Brereton Diaz putting Derby 1-0 up minutes later. The forward finished well into the far corner after a weak clearance from Bornauw fell at his feet.

The battle between Piroe and Zetterstrom continued as half-time approached, with the Leeds striker shifting the ball onto his left foot but firing an effort at the goalkeeper. The away side kept pushing for an equaliser but it didn’t arrive before half-time.

It came just 10 minutes into the second-half instead, with Gnonto rounding off a slick Leeds move with a brilliant finish. Tanaka found Jaka Bijol in space further forward, his pass beautifully dummied by Piroe and rifled home.

Leeds then went ahead swiftly after, Piroe involved again as his effort from the edge of the box was parried clear by Zetterstrom. Tanaka anticipated the save and got in first to finish from close range and put his side ahead inside an hour.

From a position of strength, Leeds looked a lot more comfortable and Nmecha came close with a header, although Zetterstrom was once again on hand to make the save. Okafor also saw a curled effort parried away.

And after defending a brief spell of pressure, Leeds made it 3-1 on the counter-attack. Nmecha burst down the left-hand side before crossing to Justin, who was in acres of space to end the contest in added-time.

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