Double-up Stoke eye playoffs

Derby 0 Stoke 2

First-half goals from Danny Higginbotham and Dominic Matteo saw Tony Pulis’ side deservedly repeat the 2-0 success they enjoyed against County in the reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium back in August.

City moved to within three points of six-placed Southampton after winning their game in hand while Derby remain just one point clear at top of the table when they were hoping to stretch their lead over West Brom to four points.

Stoke captain Higginbotham got the ball rolling with a 13th-minute penalty.

Referee Keith Stroud had no option but to point to the spot after County defender Dean Leacock inexplicably handled Lee Hendrie’s corner.

Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater dived the right way but Higginbotham’s spot-kick was too powerful and it whistled beyond his outstretched arm and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Matteo doubled Stoke’s lead with his first goal for the club in the 26th minute.

The powerful centre-back drifted freely into County’s six-yard area where he headed home Hendrie’s corner unchallenged.

Earlier, Leacock was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after he clumsily tripped Mamady Sidibe when the striker was bearing down on goal.

Leacock was immediately substituted and replaced by Tyrone Mears following Higginbotham’s penalty.

Derby’s Matt Oakley saw a 25-yard shot shave the crossbar shortly after Stoke had edged ahead and the County captain forced Steve Simonsen into a save at the foot of a post just after the half-hour.

Derby’s best chance fell to Steve Howard but the Rams’ top scorer was unable to add to his 13 league goals this season and headed David Jones’ free-kick over the crossbar.

Derby emerged from the interval a different side and laid siege to the visitors’ goal with wave after wave of attack inside the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

Jones came close to halving Derby’s arrears midway through the second half but his half-volley from the edge of the box curled just wide before Craig Fagan had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for an earlier infringement.