Derby County 0-0 Stoke City: Jack Butland frustrates Derby at Pride Park
- Published
Derby County winger Tom Lawrence was back from the ankle injury that saw him miss six games
Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland earned his side a point at Pride Park although Derby moved into the play-off places.
The Rams made all the early running but were frustrated by Butland, named in the England squad earlier on Wednesday.
Butland made an excellent save from Tom Huddlestone on 19 minutes, and then clawed away Harry Wilson's follow-up after Duane Holmes had hit the post.
Wilson almost won it for Derby when his left-footed free-kick hit the bar in stoppage time.
Stoke's best moment came when Butland's long clearance found Tom Ince, but he shot just wide against his former club.
The game was more even in the second half with Derby resorting to shots from long range.
Tom Lawrence, back after six games out, saw his shot blocked by Danny Batth, and when Bradley Johnson did beat Butland, his shot dribbled wide.
Despite a frustrating night for the home side, Derby moved back above Bristol City into sixth spot in the Championship, but they are still 17 points off Leeds in second.
Stoke City boss Nathan Jones told BBC Radio Stoke:
"The positives are it was battling, we came to Pride Park and kept a clean sheet and our goalkeeper was magnificent and showed why he's a top keeper.
"I'm delighted to get a point, to come here and the commitment they showed but I want us to be better than that.
"I picked a side to be better than that, full of footballers, but we kept giving the ball away which left us open, they had chances and everyone in the first-half came on the counter attack.
"That was the only disappointing thing, but we were resilient and showed a determination to get points but I want us to be athletic and on the front foot more."
Derby boss Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Derby:
"We deserved to win the game comfortably, we played like a real top team. Other than being clinical in front of goal.
"Obviously their goalkeeper had a good game and the woodwork got in the way, but a game like that we should really win two or three-nil."