PREVIEW | Derby County vs Stoke City - team news, lineups, predictions

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·1 Mei 2025

PREVIEW | Derby County vs Stoke City - team news, lineups, predictions

Derby County and Stoke City clash this Saturday at Pride Park Stadium in Matchweek 46 of the EFL Championship. The match will be broadcast live at 12:30 on Sky Sports +.

The Rams are in the midst of a huge relegation scrap, John Eustace's team pulling out a vital 0-1 win against Hull City last time out.

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Stoke, meanwhile, have 50 points and sit 18th position in the table. In their last encounter, Mark Robins's team were beaten 0-2 by Sheffield United.

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Stoke emerging 2-1 winners.

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Cory Hancock (Rams Review Podcast): After 45 games, it all comes down to this. Derby escaped the relegation zone with a late victory against Hull City thanks to a towering header from defender Nat Phillips. It was a dour game of football but at the end of the day, results are all that matter, and the Rams picked up a crucial one. They now sit in 19th position. Only one point from the drop zone but have a far superior goal difference to those teams around them, which could prove to be important.

The outcome is simple. If Derby win, they stay in the division. If they lose, they are looking at others’ results, which is never a great position to be in. Stoke has been poor for a majority of the season and could have as many as six players out through injury (Derby’s injury list is significant as well). While Stoke are not mathematically safe, it would take a wild day to put them into the relegation zone come the final whistle (but crazier things have happened).

This match is also a commemoration of 50 years since Derby’s second league title. Many of these former legends will be in attendance. Pride Park is sold out for this match and the supporters will be right behind The Rams. Derby have played well in recent weeks and need one final performance to secure their future. Staying in the Championship is crucial to the future ambitions of the club.

The final day will provide many twists and turns. It’s always funny how one goal from hundreds of miles away can put supporters and players on edge. Derby have been great at home this season and they hopefully continue in that vein and confirm their stay in the Championship next year.

Prediction: 2-0

Stephen Gillett (Playmaker Stats on Stoke): The Potters are safe, but the brief upturn in form that saw them record wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff was ended abruptly by a 6-0 thumping at Leeds and then a 2-0 reverse at home to Sheffield United. With Derby scrapping for their second tier status, we think Stoke will struggle to end their season on a high here.