Derby Look to Climb Out of the Drop Zone Against Stoke

Derby’s 2-0 win over Stoke City in April is the most recent meeting between the sides, and it is a result the Rams will want to repeat if they are to escape the bottom three. Now the rivals meet again at Pride Park on Saturday, with the hosts looking for their first real step away from the relegation places.

A long climb for the Rams

Derby sit 23rd of 24 with six points from 10 games and a goal difference of -10. Stoke are eighth on 16 points with a goal difference of +1. Every win at this stage carries extra weight for Derby, who need to start turning draws into victories if they are to get out of trouble.

Form

Derby have lost three of their last five league matches, drawing twice, and have scored just four goals in that run while conceding nine. Stoke have been far more productive, winning three of their last five and finding the net nine times, with seven goals against them.

Head-to-head

The April win was Derby’s first over Stoke in this recent run, but the head-to-head has been tight. Stoke beat Derby 3-1 in August 2025 and 2-1 in November 2024, while the teams drew 0-0 in May 2025. Few of these meetings have been high-scoring, and that could be important again here.

Team news

Derby face a difficult selection problem. Seven players are missing: P. Agyemang (Achilles tendon injury), E. Cashin, M. Clarke (calf injury), C. Forsyth (knee injury), D. Murkin (hamstring injury), C. Taylor, and J. Widell Zetterstrom (knee injury). M. Johnston is a doubt. Stoke will also be without A. Ampah, A. Cresswell (knee injury), S. Gallagher and S. Ingelsson (muscle injury).

Our prediction

We expect a tight game where Stoke’s greater consistency should be enough. Derby have struggled to score and their injury list makes it harder to build attacks, although the home crowd will push them to compete for every ball. Stoke have more quality in the final third and should edge it.

Derby 1-2 Stoke City