Forward Divin Mubama signed from Manchester City in the summer
Two injury-time goals from debutants Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas gave Stoke City a dramatic comeback win over Derby County on the opening day of the Championship season.
Thomas and Mubama struck late to complete a turnaround for the Potters that had started with Lewis Baker cancelling out Carlton Morris' opener for the Rams.
These sides rounded out their 2024-25 seasons with a goalless draw at Pride Park back in May – a result which secured second tier survival for both – and for a long time it looked as though that scoreline would be repeated three months on.
That was until the hour mark, when a smart team move from the visitors ended with Corey Blackett-Taylor crossing for summer signing Morris to expertly turn the ball home with an acrobatic volley.
Less than 10 minutes later and the Potters were level, Baker exchanging passes with debutant Thomas before curling home into the bottom corner from just outside the area.
The goal certainly sent a sense of relief through the home fans, and probably Thomas too, who had missed a guilt-edged chance to equalise a few minutes earlier after rounding keeper Jacob Zetterstrom only to find the side-netting.
Even when eight minutes of injury-time was signalled, it did not look like a winner would be found until Tatsuki Seko crossed for Mubama to head the ball home off the inside of the post.
There was time for one more before the final whistle, as Thomas - signed from Huddersfield over the summer - fired home following a neat reverse pass from fellow transfer window arrival Jamie Donley.
What were the main talking points?
It was a busy summer for both of these sides in the transfer market, with both Mark Robins and John Eustace starting their first full seasons in their respective dugouts.
Both had added firepower upfront after a 2024-25 campaign that failed to yield more than 45 and 48 goals apiece in 46 games.
Thomas and Mubama led Stoke's line for the first time while for the visitors, former Luton striker Morris came in to join Kayden Jackson up front.
It would turn out to be a good day for all three of the new strikers on show, all of whom got on the scoresheet, but it will be Thomas and Mubama going home happier after guiding Stoke to a fourth opening-day win in the past six years.
While Robins can reflect on what could be possible from his new attack, Eustace will know there is still work to do after seeing his side create very little in front of their opponents' goal prior to Morris' moment of inspiration.
Which player stood out?
It may have taken until the final kick of the game to get on the scoresheet, but Thomas was making his name known to the Stoke fans - and the Derby players - long before he sealed all three points in injury-time.
A lively threat in the opening minutes, he was proving tricky to handle on the left-hand side, and along with fellow new signing Mubama, was engaging with the home crowd after every mini-duel won.
Having been out of English football for a year at Nantes, Thomas has already equalled his tally of one goal from past campaign after 90 minutes with the Potters.
Thankfully, fluffing his lines after rounding visiting keeper Zetterstrom with his side 1-0 down did not have a major impact on the outcome of this game, and he will surely be in among the goals again as this season goes on.
And even if the goals are not always there, Thomas promises to be a constant thorn in the sides of Championship defenders this campaign.
What's next?
Carabao Cup first round ties await these two next in midweek.
Stoke welcome League Two Walsall to the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday (19:45 BST), while on the same night, Derby travel to fellow Championship outfit West Brom (19:45 BST).
What they said
Stoke boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:
"That's two goals from a new player and an assist from a new player, which is fantastic. Three goals at home gives us a really good start after a strong performance.
"We were really good throughout, and the only time we made a mistake we went behind out of nothing. But we kept going, continued to play create opportunities.
"The cross for the second goal was fantastic, and the goal was nothing more than Divine deserved because he ran his socks off today against two experienced centre-backs.
"We have good players, who are brave on and off the ball and all three goals came from real quality. We worked on that high level and intensity in pre-season as that is what we want to be about and what the fans want to see."
Robins: 'I thought we were really good'
Derby manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
"We limited Stoke to very little today. I was proud of the effort of the group, the attitude was fantastic but we have to learn to see out these games.
"I expected us to be better when we went 1-0 and control the game, we dropped a little bit too deep for their equaliser.
"I know this group very well and we have seven or eight players to come in and help the quality even more.
"Over the course of the 46 games we are going to improve, keep growing, and get better. That is what we will take from today."
Eustace t
Player of the match
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
