Stoke City 2-1 Derby County: Gary Rowett's 10-man Potters hold off Derby
- Published
Former Derby winger Tom Ince joined Stoke from Huddersfield for an initial £10m in July
Gary Rowett's Stoke City held off his old side Derby County with 10 men for nearly an hour to earn an impressive victory thanks to Tom Ince's winner against his former club.
Sam Clucas' first Potters goal put Stoke in front before Oghenekaro Etebo was shown a straight red card for his dangerous boot in to Richard Keogh's shin.
In the aftermath of Etebo's dismissal, Bradley Johnson grabbed Joe Allen's shirt with his teeth in a tussle after appearing to attempt to bite his shoulder, an incident which saw both receive yellow cards.
Derby were level after half-time when Harry Wilson's free-kick found the top corner before Ince slotted home from Clucas' square ball to send Stoke up to 12th in the table, five points below the Rams.
The result stretched Stoke's unbeaten streak to six matches, while ending their run of three consecutive draws.
The two sides were meeting in a league fixture for the first time since 2007 and it was Derby who enjoyed the far greater share of possession.
But Ince's well-taken fourth goal since joining the hosts in the summer inflicted Frank Lampard's side's third defeat in five games.
Stoke boss Rowett was facing Derby for the first time since he left them at the end of last term.
Stoke City manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Stoke:
"By far it was the gutsiest performance of the season and we all knew we needed it.
"We didn't start great again but then we really turned on the pace and we looked really dangerous.
"I've spoken to the referee and said I don't want to take the aftermath of the sending off any further, it's absolutely no problem."
Derby County manager Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Derby:
"We made some little tweaks at half time to get more attacking players on the ball more, we did start doing that, but then when the goal went in we didn't carry on in the way we should have.
"When they got the second goal, and it's not that it was easy for them, but it is easier to feel like you can protect something and sit deep and defend as they did.
"That's when the onus is on us to break it down, and we didn't do that."