Narcis Pelach’s focus on set-pieces paid off as Ben Gibson’s late header secured Stoke a 2-1 win against Derby.
Stoke led through an early Tom Cannon penalty before a mix-up between Gibson and goalkeeper Viktor Johansson saw the visitors level midway through the second half.
But skipper Gibson headed in from a corner in the 82nd minute to earn Pelach just a second Championship win since taking charge of the Potters in September.
“We wanted to be more aggressive than them, we want to be this strong team that scores with wide free-kicks and set-plays, I was very pleased with the (winning) goal that we scored,” Stoke boss Pelach said.
“We have worked a lot on set-plays. When I was with Huddersfield, we were the best team in the league, we scored 22 goals from set-plays by keeping it very simple but being very aggressive.
“I am really pleased. When you watch the goal back we are nasty, we put the ball into the six-yard box and we get good contact with it. I am pleased that our captain has scored it after the mistake for their goal.
“I think we were the better team, I think we deserved the win, we score a nice goal with some really good play which resulted in the penalty, but for me the most important thing for me was coming back mentally from the goal we conceded.
“Against Hull and Bristol City we lost composure mentally, not tactically, and today we stayed there. We lost momentum for 10 minutes today, but we tried to be calm, we came back and scored and we have come away with three points.”
Derby manager Paul Warne was not happy with referee John Smith at full-time, claiming that Stoke’s winner should have been ruled out for a foul on Nat Phillips moments before Gibson headed past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
“I am so disappointed with the second goal, but I would be,” Warne said.
“I don’t expect anyone will be surprised to hear me say that I think it is a foul, but if you run flat out into the front zone man, to knock him out of the way and you score in the front zone, then I’m going to be disappointed.
“But, if you don’t play well enough, you possibly don’t get anything out of the game. I don’t think we played well enough in the entirety to merit any points.
“I thought at 1-1 we were gonna win it, 1-0 is an awful scoreline for the fanbase, even the Stoke fans thought it, that we might get a goal here sooner or later.
“We tried to make attacking substitutions, and I’m an optimist, I thought we were going to go and win it after that.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
