Stoke City v Derby County: Match Preview, Odds, Lineups, Prediction

After struggling to a bottom-half finish last season, Stoke City and their fans will be desperate to get back to the days of Premier League football - which now seem so distant.

A strong pre-seaosn against Premier League sides - which includes a draw against Wolves and a win against Burnley - will bring optimism to the bet365 stadium ahead of another gruelling campaign in the second tier, but having finished narrowly ahead of Derby last season, the Potters will be ready to show their intent with a win and launch a surprise attack on the top six this term.

Recent Championship Results:

• (D) 0-0 at Derby County (03 May 2025)

• (L) 0-2 at home against Sheffield United (25 Apr 2025)

• (L) 0-6 at Leeds United (21 Apr 2025)

• (W) 2-0 at home against Sheffield Wednesday (18 Apr 2025)

• (W) 1-0 win at Cardiff City (12 Apr 2025)

Similarly to their hosts, Derby struggled to pick up any real momentum last season, but will ultimately have been happy to avoid the drop after being in serious peril for the majority of the season.

John Eustace oversaw a strong end to the season which saw the Rams avoid relegation and have another shot at the Championship, and with some exciting performances coming out of pre-season, they'll be hopeful of maintaining their form from April and May and having a much more comfortable campaign this time around - starting with a positive result here.

Recent Championship Results:

• (D) 0-0 at home to Stoke City (03 May 2025)

• (W)1-0 at Hull City (26 Apr 2025)

• (W)3-1 at West Brom (21 Apr 2025)

• (L) 0-1 at home against Luton Town (18 Apr 2025)

• (D) 2-2 at Portsmouth (12 Apr 2025)

Derby have had the better of recent meetings with the Potters, winning three of the last five meetings in all competitions. Stoke have claimed one win, and one game has ended in a draw. However, Stoke picked up four points from their two games with County last season.

• Derby 0-0 Stoke City (03 May 2025)

• Stoke City 2-1 Derby (02 Nov 2024)

• Derby 3-0 Stoke City (22 Jul 2023)

• Stoke City 1-2 Derby (30 Dec 2021)

• Derby 2-1 Stoke City (18 Sep 2021)

• No reported injuries.

• Sondre Langras (Knee surgery) - Doubtful

• Curtis Nelson (Torn knee ligaments) - Doubtful

• Patrick Agyemang (Inguinal hernia) - Doubtful

• Lars-Jørgen Salvesen (Cruciate ligament tear) - Doubtful

• 4-2-3-1: Johansson; Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Lawal, Cresswell; Pearson, Baker; Manhoef, Bae, Thomas; Mubama

Stoke will head into this game looking to strike a balance between their defensive solidity and vibrant attacking play. The Potters have exciting players capable of outplaying the Derby defence.

• 4-2-3-1: Zetterstrom; Turley, Rooney, Batth, Forsyth; Thompson, Goudmijn; Jackson, Adams, Blackett-Taylor; Morris

As the away team, Derby are likely to approach the game in a slightly more cautious manner at the start. However, like their opponents, the Rams have some quality players in attack, who could have an impact later in the game.

• Ben Wilmot (Stoke) vs Carlton Morris (Derby): Wilmot will have the task of taking care of Derby’s new signing, who has made his mark in the Championship in past seasons. 

• Divin Mubama (Stoke) vs Danny Batth (Derby): Mubama is a bright young prospect who will be looking to make his mark on his debut, while Batth will be looking to use all his experience to keep the Manchester City loanee quiet. 

• Jun-ho Bae (Stoke): The young South Korean impressed last season in the Championship, and he could be a key player if the Potters are to make a winning start to the new season. 

• Ebou Adams (Derby): The midfielder has been a key player for County in recent seasons. If on form, he could be a match-winner in the centre of the park for the visitors.

Stoke City vs Derby - Championship Game Week One Post Match Analysis

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.