On the opening day of the Championship season, Stoke City scored twice in stoppage time to beat Derby County 3-1 at the bet365 Stadium, with debutants Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas turning a tense afternoon into a raucous home victory. Summer signing Carlton Morris had earlier fired Derby in front on the hour, only for Lewis Baker's superb equaliser and the late flurry from Stoke's new front line to flip the contest on its head.
The result was a far cry from the goalless draw at Pride Park three months earlier that had secured second-tier safety for both clubs at the end of last season. After a summer in which Mark Robins and John Eustace both rebuilt their attacks following modest goal returns, this new campaign began with a vivid demonstration of Stoke's added firepower and a harsh lesson for Derby in seeing games out.
Stoke on Top but Rams Strike First
Stoke made almost all the early running, pinning Derby back and creating a flurry of chances that hinted at the attacking intent Robins has tried to instil. Inside three minutes, Bae Jun-ho met Million Manhoef's cross but headed straight at Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, and soon after Junior Tchamadeu's long pass released Thomas, whose acrobatic effort from the edge of the box was clawed away by the visiting goalkeeper.