On 27 minutes, Derby took the lead: Paul Simpson's through-ball found Tommy Johnson who out-ran both Simon Grayson and Brian Carey before scoring past Gavin Ward.

Leicester City finished ten points behind Nottingham Forest (who were promoted in second place) and seventeen behind league winners Crystal Palace.

Derby dominated the second half and doubled their lead when Tommy Johnson scored on 60 minutes having been sent clear by Marco Gabbiadini; the match ended 2–0.

Minutes later, just as the referee was about to award a penalty to Millwall, a second pitch invasion took place and the players retreated to the dressing rooms once again.

[3] After the game, Millwall's chairman Reg Burr claimed that the play-offs were "a recipe for violence" and argued "they should be scrapped or else changed radically.

The match ended goalless with one of the best chances falling to the home side, when John Aldridge's close range shot was saved by the fingertips of Gavin Ward.

In the last moments of the first half, Leicester took the lead: Mark Blake's shot hit the post and Ian Ormondroyd converted the rebound.

David Speedie, a second-half substitute, then restored Leicester's lead with four minutes remaining, heading in a free kick from Blake.

[13] The Derby County manager Roy McFarland had been appointed to the role in October 1993, taking over from Arthur Cox with the club in eleventh place, and was given a simple briefing to "get promotion this season".

[4] Steve Walsh was making his second full appearance for Leicester since September 1993 when he suffered cruciate ligament injury compounded by tendonitis.

Derby made the better start against Leicester's five-man defence: Jimmy Willis cleared a shot off the goalline from Gabbiadini in the first minute of the match.

Three minutes later, Derby took the lead: Simpson's through-ball found Johnson who out-ran both Simon Grayson and Brian Carey before scoring past Ward.

Taylor made the save but the rebound fell to Walsh who scored for the second time to put Leicester back into the lead.

"[14] Walsh expressed relief at avoiding a third consecutive play-off final defeat, noting: "I can't believe what has happened here after the disappointments of the last two years".

[17] McFarland suggested his team would bounce back, but acknowledged that "there were a lot of tears on the pitch afterwards which shows the depth of feeling among the players".