Stoke City and Derby County kick off their 2025-26 Championship campaign at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday 9th August at 3pm. Both sides battled relegation last season and ended the campaign with a goalless draw against each other. This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
Ebou Adams to be Carded (23/10 with William Hill)
At 23/10 with William Hill Ebou Adams is a tempting shout to be carded on Saturday. The Derby midfielder was one of the Championship’s most ill-disciplined players last season, collecting 12 yellow cards. History is against him here, too—he found his way into the referee’s book in both of his meetings with Stoke last term.
Under 2.5 goals (4/5 with bet365)
Saturday’s clash could be a low-scoring affair. Three of Derby’s last four Championship games have gone under 2.5 goals, while six of Stoke’s last seven have followed the same pattern. The Potters have managed to score more than once in just one of their last seven competitive outings, adding further weight to the unders market.
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How both teams go into Stoke vs Derby
Stoke had a campaign to forget in 2024-25. The Potters had three different managers but couldn’t get away from the relegation battle. Steven Schumacher and Narcis Pelach were both sacked before the new year, with Mark Robins taking charge from January 2025.
Robins managed to steer Stoke clear in the end, but they still finished just two points above the relegation zone. The Potters were fortunate that things had been so close at the bottom, with three teams between them and 22nd-placed Luton Town. This will be Stoke’s eighth consecutive season in the Championship, and they’ll be hoping for their first top-half finish since dropping down.
Derby finished one point and one place below Stoke, also stuck in the relegation battle. The Rams also changed their manager during the campaign, replacing Paul Warne with John Eustace in February 2025. It was a move that frustrated Blackburn Rovers fans, as he stepped down from the play-off race to a relegation battle.
But it turned out to be a great appointment for Derby. Having spent a lot of the season in the relegation zone, the Rams pulled themselves out right at the end thanks to a three-game unbeaten run. A final-day draw against Stoke helped seal their spot in the Championship for a second season running.
Stoke team news
Stoke have been busy in the transfer window with six new arrivals, including the loan signing of Divin Mubama from Manchester City. The Potters went into pre-season with a few injury concerns but now look set to have a strong squad to choose from.
Derby team news
Derby have signed five new players so far this summer, including two from Blackburn. But they have a host of injury issues. Sondre Langas will miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery on a knee injury. Curtis Nelson and Ryan Nyambe are also set to miss out, with Joe Ward, Andreas Weimann, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and Dajaune Brown all unlikely to feature. Patrick Agyemang recently had surgery on a hernia so is also a doubt.
Stoke vs Derby head-to-head
Stoke took four points from their two game against Derby last season. They were the first meetings since 2021-22, when Derby did the league double.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 03/05/25 | Derby 0-0 Stoke | Championship |
| 02/11/24 | Stoke 2-1 Derby | Championship |
| 30/12/21 | Stoke 1-2 Derby | Championship |
| 18/09/21 | Derby 2-1 Stoke | Championship |
| 20/03/21 | Stoke 1-0 Derby | Championship |