Wednesday’s blockbuster Sky Bet Championship match pits Gary Rowett’s Stoke City against his former club, Derby County at the bet365 Stadium.
Victory for Derby here is imperative if they’re to stay within touching distance of the top four, whilst Stoke can continue to edge closer to a Play-Off spot with victory here.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesStoke City have a fully fit squad available with Tom Ince set to start against his former club.
Jayden Bogle could be handed a recall to Derby lineup after illness kept him out of Saturday’s win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Craig Bryson and Martyn Waghorn are also available for recovering from respective calf and hamstring injuries.
Form
Stoke City enter this match unbeaten in their last five, although four of those matches finished as draws.
They also haven’t scored in three of their last five home games, netting twice in each of their other two during this period.
Derby meanwhile have lost just two of their last nine in all competitions since the turn of October.
The Rams have also won and drawn two apiece from their last four away games, conceding once in each of those matches.
Stat Attack
- Stoke have won only three of their last seven meetings with Derby and two of those wins came in 2006-07 when both were last in same division together with all three wins being by a 2-0 result.
- Last four meetings saw the winning side keep a clean sheet.
- Stoke have won only three home league games this season with four different goal scorers and an own goal across those victories.
- Jack Marriott and Harry Wilson have scored three goals each in Derby’s last five games, with both scoring in exact same matches.
- Gary Rowett’s last game as oppositional manager against Derby County came in January 2016 when Birmingham City cruised to a 3-0 win.
Prediction
Based on form, Derby are favourites but Stoke have found form at home lately and boasts Gary Rowett who knows how this Derby side tend to play.
A draw therefore would be a decent result here for both sides.
Prediction: Stoke City 1-1 Derby County
Result: Stoke City 2-1 Derby County