Tom Ince scored the winner against his former club as 10 man Stoke City beat Derby County at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night.
The hosts were the better team during the first half hour and went ahead through Sam Clucas after the forward was played in one-on-one with Scott Carson before tucking the ball underneath the goalkeeper.
Peter Etebo was sent off just after the half hour mark for a nasty challenge on Richard Keogh.
Derby looked to take advantage of the numbers game by dominating possession and equalised early in the second half through a Harry Wilson free kick. However, Frank Lampard’s side rarely tested Jack Butland in the Stoke goal before Ince scored the winner on the counter-attack just after the hour to give Gary Rowett victory in his first meeting versus the club he left over the summer.
Here are EFL Matters’ player ratings from Stoke City 2-1 Derby County:
Stoke City
Jack Butland 5 – Will be disappointed with moving away from the post from which he was meant to be guarding on the Harry Wilson free kick to equalise for Derby. Moments earlier had been beaten at his near post by Jack Marriott only to be rescued by the post. Made a good instinctive save to deny Fikayo Tomori from close range but otherwise Derby didn’t offer many problems at all for Jack Butland to deal with.
Cuco Martina 7 – Tom Lawrence was most effective when cutting inside but Scott Malone was able to get a few crosses in from Cuco Martin’s wing. The full-back offered width going forward himself.
Ashley Williams 9 – Solid defensive performance as Derby barely saw a sight on goal in open play. Good positioning and decision-making from Ashley Williams this evening.
Ryan Shawcross 8 – Made a number of clearances and Jack Marriott barely got a sniff on goal.
Erik Pieters 7 – Harry Wilson wasn’t a huge factor down the right for Derby. Erik Pieters himself got into the opponent’s box even when Stoke were down to 10 men. Put a few crosses into the box.
Ryan Woods 6 – A couple of nice passes in the opening half hour but also gave the ball away a fair few times. Played a more defensive role thereafter following Peter Etebo’s red card.
Joe Allen 7 – Fortunate to escape any punishment for shoving Bradley Johnson in the back, then putting his arm around the opponents neck and biting him. Joe Allen was creative in the opening 30 minutes when it was 11 v 11. Lovely assist for Stoke’s opener.
Peter Etebo 2 – Selfish behaviour in attempting to break Richard Keogh’s leg on the follow through and deservedly sent off in the first half. Peter Etebo had been useful in winning back possession prior to his moment of madness.
Tom Ince 7 – Tested Scott Carson from long range early on. Had been a quiet performance versus his former club until giving Stoke the lead just after the hour first time from 12 yards. Looked to be a threat on the counter after but didn’t get the right service.
Saido Berahino 6 – Did an adequate job of bringing teammates into play at times but as the striker Saido Berahino didn’t produce a single shot in 90 minutes.
Sam Clucas 9 – Made some good runs off the ball including one for the opening goal Then assisted Tom Ince in the second half having created the odd chance previously.
Substitutes
James McClean (18 mins) N/A – Brought on as fresh legs but barely touched the ball.
Benik Afobe (11 mins) N/A – Straight swap for Saido Berahino but didn’t get an opportunity to shoot. Barely got a touch of the ball in truth.
Tom Edwards (1 mins) N/A – Brought on in stoppage time to help run down the clock.
Derby County
Scott Carson 4 – May have felt he could have done better with both goals that were fired at him. Early in the first half Scott Carson could only parry a long-range effort from Tom Ince that nearly caused danger.
Jayden Bogle 5 – Sam Clucas caused the teenager a lot of problems down the wing.
Richard Keogh 6 – Won his aerial battles but neither centre-back picked up Tom Ince on the penalty spot for the home side’s second goal.
Curtis Davies 4 – Caught out by Sam Clucas’ run for the opening goal and was stretchered off just before half-time.
Scott Malone 6 – Put a couple of good crosses in from the left, one creating a chance for Jack Marriott from close range at the start of the second half. Tom Ince was more effective for Stoke when drifting in the middle rather than up against Scott Malone out wide.
Bradley Johnson 5 – Fortunate not to be sent off for biting Joe Allen in which the Derby player received the same treatment. Was sloppy in possession and replaced by Tom Huddlestone at half-time as the Rams chased the game against 10 men.
Craig Bryson 6 – Kept the ball moving in the middle of the park but nothing special. Didn’t win the ball back for the visitors.
Mason Mount 6 – Saw a lot of the ball as the attacking midfielder in a central three but Mason Mount didn’t do a huge amount with it. Never tested Jack Butland once.
Harry Wilson 6 – Scored a nice free kick but otherwise Harry Wilson didn’t contribute much.
Jack Marriott 5 – Had a nice first time effort to hit the inside of the post at the start of the second half but otherwise there was no supply to Jack Marriott. Terrible first touch on more than one occasion.
Tom Lawrence 7 – Tried to make things happen for Derby, forcing two saves out of Jack Butland. Ultimately, didn’t see enough of the ball and Stoke had too many players in front of Tom Lawrence when he did have possession.
Substitutes
Fikayo Tomori (46 mins) 6 – Looked comfortable bringing the ball forward but neither centre-back picked up Tom Ince for Stoke’s second goal. Denied from a corner by a great instinctive save from Jack Butland.
Tom Huddlestone (45 mins) 6 – Came on at half-time as Derby saw the majority of possession in the second half versus the 10 men, but Tom Huddlestone didn’t create anything.
Martyn Waghorn (20 mins) N/A – Brought on for Craig Bryson as Frank Lampard tried throwing the kitchen sink against Stoke City in the final 20 minutes. Martyn Waghorn did nothing of note.
