A tempestuous first 45 minutes with yellow cards galore and a coming together between Marcus Harness and George Williams early on.

But this one remains goalless heading into the break.

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And that's the interval at the SCL Stadium.

Junior Hoilett's exquisite strike the difference between these two.

A first half not short of action at either end but one that is short on goals.

Stoke and Preston have shown this one's got a good bit of entertainment, but will there be goals after the break?

Image source, Rex Features

Josh Laurent picks up a yellow card in the closing moments of this first half as he hauls back Max Bird trying to get clear on the break on halfway.

Three minutes being added on at the end of this first 45.

Preston win a corner which is sent into the Stoke box via Ben Whiteman but the hosts head it away from danger.

Not long remaining in the first half, now.

Decent response by Derby to going behind.

Luke Plange manages to get away from markers from a corner for a header, but he nods it well over the crossbar.

Preston look to counter against Stoke after the Potters had dominated the past 10 minutes or so.

Brad Potts sends a ball in towards Emil Riis who tried to play through Daniel Johnson but Ben Wilmot blocks his pass.

Just under five minutes until the break.

Seems that the free-kick that started the move for that goal was not taken where it should've been by Reading.

The foul was committed inside Reading's own penalty area, but Luke Southwood took it from well outside of the box without any correction from the officials.

A fair few yellow cards being dished out in this one.

A tasty affair as Mahlon Romeo goes into the book for a late challenge on James Brophy who himself sees yellow for a lunge on Ronan Curtis later on.

Still goalless between Cambridge and Portsmouth with about five minutes to go until half-time.

Another flurry of corners to the hosts, with Mario Vrancic sending the first in, leading to an Andrew Hughes clearance at the back post.

Stoke send another corner into the box, which is well dealt with by Preston's Ben Whiteman.

Sustained spell of possession for Derby forces another corner.

Just over 10 minutes plus stoppages to play before the break.

Ben Wilmot almost gets the better of Preston keeper Daniel Iversen but fortunately for the visitors, the offisde flag was up.

Stoke continuing to press but no reward as of yet.

Luke Plange has a shot on the turn for Derby that takes a slight deflection.

Luke Southwood across well to his left to palm it behind for a corner.

Baba Rahman heads it away from danger for the hosts.

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Tyrell Ashcroft carrying on for now for the hosts, but this match has stagnated a touch after that earlier chance for Andy Carroll was well saved by Ryan Allsop.

30 minutes gone and it's been end-to-end in this one but still no goals.

Both sides have threatened and been forced to defend, but there is yet to be a breakthrough.

Break in play as Reading full-back Tyrell Ashcroft needs treatment for reportedly struggling with his vision.

His manager Veljko Paunovic is clearly unhappy about something as well as he remonstrates with the fourth official during this stoppage.

Luke Southwood again calm and confident gathering high balls into his area from Derby.

Max Bird's delivery a bit too long to find a team-mate and the Reading keeper takes it with both hands.

This time it's Stoke's turn to force Preston into some quickfire defending.

Steven Fletcher almost gets the hosts off the mark but Andrew Hughes puts in a fine last-ditch stoppage.

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth almost take the lead against Cambridge and it comes after Reeco Hackett works onto a Marcus Harness cutback.

He shoots over the bar but soon after, Cambridge work the ball up the other end as Gavin Bazunu is forced into a save to deny Adam May before Mahlon Romeo blocks James Brophy's follow-up effort.