**Derby's form is absolutely dire, but Stoke just got upset at home—could be vulnerability to exploit here.** 🔥 The Rams have picked up just two draws in five, though they're battling a serious injury crisis. Stoke showed cracks against Middlesbrough after winning three straight, so momentum's a bit fragile too.

Derby's backline is stretched paper-thin with **C. Taylor**, **C. Forsyth**, **D. Murkin**, and **E. J. Cashin** all sidelined. That leaves some makeshift options. Stoke's been sharper overall but that slip at home is a yellow flag—they can be rattled.

Key storylines:

- **Derby's injury nightmare** puts the defense under serious strain with four key absentees
- **Stoke's home frailty** against Middlesbrough shows they're not unbeatable, especially with a midfield shuffle needed
- **Head-to-head balance** slightly favors Stoke (7 wins to Derby's 5), but home turf is a factor

Expected lineups:

- **Derby County**: J. Vickers, S. K. Langås, D. Sanderson, J. Ward, B. Clark, A. Mowatt, R. Hedges, S. Szmodics, M. Fuseini, C. Morris
- **Stoke City**: V. Johansson, B. Johnson, B. Wilmot, M. Talovierov, L. Graham, E. Bocat, E. Galbraith, D. Soumaré, L. Cissé, S. Gallagher, G. Hirst

Prediction:

**Stoke City 2–1 Derby County.** Stoke's quality edges out a crippled Derby side, though the home team will find opportunities in transition.