The Rams moved to within a point of the top six as they powered past Stoke City who were booed off at Pride Park as John Eustace’s side made it five straight wins at home
09:56, 07 Apr 2026Updated 09:58, 07 Apr 2026
Jaydon Banel of Derby County celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Stoke City at Pride Park
Derby County remain firmly in the chase for the Championship play-offs as they overcame Stoke City at Pride Park in a game marred by a serious injury to striker Patrick Agyemang.
Jaydon Banel’s second-half effort followed by Carlton Morris’ 11th goal of the season was enough to seal a 2-0 victory for John Eustace’s side who closed the gap to the top six to just one point.
That came after Banel was sent on to replace Agyemang who was carried off on a stretcher four minutes before half-time when he landed funny after going to chest down a ball near the centre circle.
The American was visibly distressed as he was taken down the tunnel having been consoled by his team-mates as he received treatment.
Carlton Morris had caused plenty of concern for the Stoke defence when he met a corner at the near post, but his flick took a deflection off his own team-mate and went out for a goal kick.
But the Derby striker went even closer moments later when a cross from Derry Murkin looped up into the air and as it dropped, Morris hit a superb volley that cannoned off the upright.
The chances were beginning to come for Eustace’s side as Morris then delivered a fine pass for Brereton Diaz which took him clean through on goal but his touch just deserted him.
Joe Ward struck a shot from distance that skipped past the upright before Morris raced through on goal only for a super challenge from Sydney Agina to stop him in his tracks.
Stoke’s first serious effort at goal then came when Eric Bocat unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which flew past the upright.
But with time ticking towards half-time, Patrick Agyemang controlled a ball with his chest, before slumping to the ground after appearing to land funny.
The striker immediately put his hands over his face before the stretcher was summoned and he was visibly upset as he was taken down the tunnel.
Jaydon Banel was sent on to replace him and the winger scored his first goal for the club after the break when Bobby Clark’s cross just evaded Morris, but the on-loan Burnley man kept it alive and steered past Bazunu.
Tatsuki Seto blazed over for Stoke in return before Bobby Clark rattled the upright with a stunning volley from the edge of the box.
And it was left to Morris to wrap up the win at the end of a super team move when he converted Bobby Clark’s pass.
Derby refuse to leave the chat
Whatever setback happens to be thrown at this Derby team, they keep refusing to leave the chatroom when it comes to the Championship play-offs.
Despite picking up another injury in Patrick Agyemang, who was carried off on a stretcher, John Eustace’s side were too strong, too dominant and had too much quality for a Stoke team booed off at the final whistle.
A fifth straight win at home means they are now just one point off the top six and are firmly in the rear-view of those sides above them.
Stoke simply had no answer to Derby’s aggression both with and without the ball and suffered the ultimate embarrassment of being subjected to a round of ‘oles’ before Carlton Morris went and finished off a superb team move.
By that stage, Jaydon Banel had already given them the lead, and the only complaint, if there was any, was that Derby didn’t score more, and that’s not the first time that has been said in recent weeks.
And yet as the injuries continue to act like a bothersome fly, Derby still manage to swat them aside, setting them up for an enthralling end to the season.
They are still very much the outsiders in the eyes of everyone outside Pride Park, but if there is one thing we have learned about what John Eustace has instilled in this team, it is that you write them off at your peril.
A devastating blow
The sight of Patrick Agyemang being carried off on a stretcher was an utterly gut-wrenching moment, and our thoughts go out to the USA international.
He underwent a scan last night ahead of an update that is expected today on just how serious his injury is. Given how visibly distressed he was, the optics were not great and you can’t help but fear the worst.
It was a totally innocuous incident which stemmed from him jumping to bring the ball down with his chest near the halfway line. Initially, it didn’t look serious, but when he didn’t get up after 30 seconds, the alarm went off.
Agyemang was clearly upset as he was consoled by his team-mates, particularly with the World Cup just around the corner.
It was ultimately a reminder of what a cruel mistress this game can be. Agyemang has been a brilliant signing and a great ambassador for the club. He’s slotted in seamlessly since his arrival from Charlotte FC and has delivered some sensational performances along the way.
We can only hope it’s not as serious as it looked. Either way, he will have plenty of love and support from everybody at Pride Park.
Morris was like his old self
Since returning from an ankle injury sustained against Watford last November, it has understandably taken time to find top gear.
But yesterday, the forward was much more like the Morris who haunted every defence he faced in the first half of the campaign. Stoke couldn’t live with his physicality or his movement in what was a brilliant demonstration of how a striker should lead the line.
He could have easily left this game with a hat-trick, having thundered a volley off the post in the first half before a terrific tackle denied him again before the interval.
But his persistence paid off when he steered in his 11th goal of the season, the result of a fabulous team move.
When he’s in this kind of form, he is a force of nature. Had he not picked up that injury, it’s safe to assume that given the form that he was in, he surely would have reached 20 goals this season.
With five games remaining, and if he can keep this up, then he is going to be a critical figure as Derby look to gatecrash the top six.
Ozoh good
The on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder walked away with the man of the match award for a performance that dripped with quality.
Stoke couldn’t get near him in the first half, and there was one point where it appeared he had this invisible force field as players just bounced off him.
He gave Sorba Thomas the runaround with a masterful demonstration of how to protect the ball with your body, but he was also smart in possession, too.
He was eventually subbed in the final 10 minutes, but Derby fans made their feelings clear with chants of ‘sign him up’ during the course of the 90 minutes.
Ozoh’s contract is due to expire at Palace in the summer, which will no doubt have put numerous clubs on notice. But he’s spent two years at Derby now, and he almost feels part of the furniture.
Eustace is keen for Derby to retain as many players as they can for next season. He would certainly fit into that bracket of a player that would not just be a sound investment for Derby’s aspirations on the pitch, but also an asset that could make them considerable cash in the future.
WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today
What did you make of the performance? Have your say HERE