bet365 Stadium
Derby County’s opening game of the Sky Bet Championship season ended in defeat following two late Stoke City goals at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon
After a goalless first half, with the hosts in control, Derby came out lively in the second period.
Carlton Morris put Derby in front with an instinctive finish on the hour mark - scoring his first goal for the Rams on his debut.
But Lewis Baker brought the game level in the 70th minute when he fired in from distance. A late goal from striker Divin Mubama came before Sorba Thomas netted in added time to put Derby out of sight and claim a 3-1 victory for Stoke.
The Rams’ starting line-up saw Carlton Morris and former Stoke man Danny Batth make their debuts for Derby, while Andi Weimann, David Ozoh and Dion Sanderson were the other summer signings to play, coming from the bench.
Stoke’s Bae Junho had the first opportunity of the game in the third minute when he met Million Manhoef’s cross from the right flank - but Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström easily collected his header from close range.
Sorba Thomas aimed to profit from a speculative long ball by Junior Tchamadeu moments later as he saw the ball bounce in his direction and volleyed it towards goal. Again, Zetterström was equal to it and caught the attempt.
The Rams had to absorb pressure from the hosts for the majority of the first half, and remained defensively solid to hold off Stoke’s advances.
Derby’s first noteable chance came via Corey Blackett-Taylor, who beat his defender on the left flank and floated in a cross that sailed near to the top corner of the goal, with Stoke shot-stopper Viktor Johansson reaching to palm it away.
After going in goalless at the break, Derby came out with more impetus in the second period; a link-up between Blackett-Taylor and Kayden Jackson won a throw-in down the right soon into the second period. Ryan Nyambe’s long throw found its way to the back post and found Jackson, who aimed towards goal, but his effort was caught by Johansson.
Derby took the lead in the 60th minute through Morris from close range. The striker met Blackett-Taylor’s left-wing cross and volleyed the ball into the ground to bounce beyond the goalkeeper and into the net to mark his Rams bow with a goal.
Thomas looked certain to level in the 64th minute when he was played in behind the Derby defence, but Nyambe and Zetterström forced the winger to a tight angle and he hit the side netting with his shot.
Head Coach John Eustace’s first change came in the 68th minute when Ozoh replaced Kenzo Goudmijn in the middle of the park.
Stoke midfielder Baker scored with a shot from distance in the 70th minute to make it 1-1 and put the game on level terms once again.
Weimann was Derby’s second substitution of the afternoon as he came on for Blackett-Taylor in the 79th minute. He looked to make a quick impact as he won a free-kick 20 yards out moments after he came on. The attacker went for goal with his curled effort was near, just bending around the other side of the post.
Zetterström pulled off an excellent save with three minutes of regulation time to go when Tchamadeu shot towards the top corner from 25 yards out. The Swedish shot-stopper was quick to react and stretched to tip the ball over the bar.
Sanderson was substituted onto the field during eight minutes of added time at the end of the game to make his Rams debut.
Stoke had the lead for the first time as Mubama headed beyond Zetterström in the sixth minute of added time and moments later they broke on Derby, who were searching for an equaliser, and Thomas made it three to seal the victory.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Clarke, Morris, Blackett-Taylor (Weimann 79), L. Thompson, Goudmijn (Ozoh 68), Jackson (Sanderson 90), Nyambe, Adams (C).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Osborn, Elder, Rooney, Clark, Brown.
Stoke City: Johansson (GK), Cresswell, Pearson (Seko 84), Thomas, Baker, Mubama (Boženík 90), Junho, Wilmot (C), Lawal (Phillips 73), Tchamadeu, Manhoef (Donley 73).
Unused Substitutes: Bonham (GK), Bocat, Gibson, Fawumni, Mears.
Referee: Elliot Bell
Assistant Referees: Ian Cooper, David Harrison
Fourth Official: Scott Jackson
25,746 (3,375 away supporters).
The Rams will head to the Hawthorns on Tuesday night for Carabao Cup Round One action against West Bromwich Albion (7:45pm kick-off).
