Derby County fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.
Tom Cannon gave the Potters the lead from the penalty spot before ten minutes in the Potteries. The Rams had the scoreline back level through a Viktor Johansson own goal in the 70th minute after a bright start to the second period.
Centre-back Ben Gibson made up for his error leading up to Derby's equaliser when he gave the Potters the lead once more in the 82nd minute as they claimed all three points and inflict a first loss in a month on the Rams.
Joe Ward, on his first league start this season, had Derby’s first opportunity of the game after Nathaniel Mendez-Laing won a free-kick from close range. Ward stepped up to take and sent a spinning strike towards the far post that Stoke shot-stopper Johansson parried away from danger.
Jerry Yates had the ball in the back of the net minutes later. Eiran Cashin’s slide challenge found him in space, but Yates was judged to be in an offside position before he received the ball.
Cannon handed the lead to the hosts in the ninth minute after the striker ran in behind and forced Zetterström to take action leading to a penalty kick by sliding in to foul the on-loan Leicester City frontman. His strike from the spot was hit hard and low into the bottom corner beyond the grasp of the Derby goalkeeper.
Andrew Moran came close for the Potters as a quick one-two on the left flank made space for Enda Stevens to deliver a low cross to the midfielder who spun a shot just wide of the post from 12 yards out.
The half took a looser turn towards the latter stages as both sides tried to etch out control of the game. The Rams executed multiple attacks but without the crucial pass to unlock their opposition whose defence held firm to send the game into half-time with Stoke a goal to the good.
Paul Warne made the first changes of the game at half-time as Callum Elder and Nat Phillips entered the field with Ward and Craig Forsyth making way.
Kayden Jackson played a threatening ball into the area for Yates to latch onto in the 49th minute, but Johansson was alert to palm the delivery away from danger.
Zetterström thwarted Cannon with an incredible save in the 57th minute. Million Manhoef broke away down the flank and handed the ball over to Bae Junho who played Cannon into space in the box for a strike that the Swedish shot-stopper denied brilliantly.
Johansson made an equally crucial stop at the other end of the field in the 60th minute as Elder delivered a cross to the onrushing Jackson in the box. The Rams attacker's shot was parried away by Johansson to deny the summer signing from Ipswich Town.
Dajaune Brown and Kenzo Goudmijn were substituted onto the field for Yates and Marcus Harness in the 63rd minute as Derby kept pushing for the equaliser.
Zetterström made another vital save as the Potters appeared to have a sure-fire second when Junho found space to head Stevens’ delivery goalwards in the 66th minute, with the Swede pushing the ball away well.
Derby's equaliser came as a deep ball forward from Elder saw Gibson head the ball into his own net before a scrambling Johansson could keep it out, although he did get a touch which meant it went down as an own goal by the goalkeeper.
James Collins was the Rams' final substitute as he took the place of Mendez-Laing in the 78th minute.
Gibson made up for his error and put Stoke in front in the 82nd minute as he nodded the ball in at the front post from a corner, despite claims from Derby that Phillips was fouled in the lead-up to the goal.
Derby pushed for a leveller once more, but Stoke held on to take the points.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Ward (Phillips 46), Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth (Elder 46), Adams, Osborn, Harness (Goudmijn 63), Jackson, Mendez-Laing (C) (Collins 78), Yates (Brown 63).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Bradley, Thompson, Blackett-Taylor.
Stoke City: Johansson (GK), Tchamadeu, Gibson (C), Phillips, Stevens, Burger, Seko (Koumas 56), Moran, Junho (Bocat 88), Manhoef (Vidigal 90+1), Cannon.
Unused Substitutes: Bonham (GK), Sidibe, Dixon, J. Thompson, Ennis, Tezgel.
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Sam Lewis, Blake Antrobus
Fourth Official: Thomas Parsons
24,511 (3,364 away supporters)
Derby have a quick turnaround as they return to action in the Sky Bet Championship for another way clash when they face Coventry City on Wednesday night (7:45pm kick-off).
