A bright and attacking display by the Rams gave more than 10,000 fans at Pride Park something to be positive about as they outplayed their Premier League visitors.

Rumours of an impending transfer deal for Rob Hulse were not doused when he sat in the stands for the friendly with ‘groin soreness’. It seems it must be contagious as Robbie Savage missed the match with the very same complaint. Perhaps transfer speculation will now begin for our beloved Captain as well.

An early goal from Chris Porter ended up being the difference when, in the 7th minute, a Kris Commons cross was met solidly by the big striker with his header easily beat the Potters keeper and the ball nestled in the back of the net.

The teams traded blows with Commons very lively and some Rory Delap throws causing chaos on more than one occasion.

Paul Green was unlucky not to score a second for the Rams on half time when an effort was only just cleared off the line.

Encouragingly the team were keeping hold of the ball and showing good touch with various passing moves that displayed composure and an attacking intent.

Derby had been scoring goals with ease so far in the pre-season but stopping them at the other end was becoming an issue. Mainly due to the fact that the personnel required to do the job had been unavailable.

Leacock and Anderson provided the answer to that quandary as the two recognised centre backs, finally playing together, looked much more solid and less likely to concede than their top flight opposition.

Stoke tried to raise the tempo in the second half but no one could fault the work ethic on display from the home side as they shut down each foray forward and went about launching counter attacks at every opportunity.

Pringle and Cywka combined with the Polish attacker only a breath away from converting. He followed up his good work with a cracking long range effort that drifted wide and a curling thunderbolt that again was not far from the mark.

Tomasz was on fire and giving the home fans something to really get excited about as he showed what he will hope to regularly re-produce over the coming season.

Substitute David Martin skipped away and sent in a probing, low effort that without a late deflection would have most likely produced a goal.

Bywater had a very sleepy day at the office and frankly you could have easily forgotten he was there. That was until he had to rush the oncoming Tuncay and smother the ball at his feet. Match-fee earned!

There was a lot to get excited about and Derby looked better in this clash than they managed for 90% of last season. May it be a sign of things to come!

Attacking football, some quality moves and passing with a defence that looked patient, assured and dominant throughout most of the match.

It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of writing such a review about a Rams team and may there not be as long a drought until the next time.

Unbeaten in the pre-season with the Brum next up at Pride Park on Saturday…. then the real fun begins!

Dans Man of the Match:

Tomasz Cywka

This boy will drive defences mad in the Championship with displays like this one. Could easily surpass Commons as the Rams playmaker but if they both stay fit and make it out on the park week in, week out... that is a mouth watering prospect.

Managers Reaction:

Nigel Clough speaking to the official site after the match -

"It (the game) was an excellent workout for us; we were very pleased with how hard everyone worked. Stoke tested us in ways other teams won't, so it was a perfect exercise".

"There was some excellent football and there is still plenty to work on because the 4-2-3-1 formation is still new to us. Physically Stoke are one of the best in the country at closing teams down, so when we were in possession they put us under pressure".

"We needed to see a resilient side to our game because we will need to see more of that than the flamboyant side of our game in the next nine months.

"We will see that flamboyance in glimpses, like we did against Stoke with 6 or 10 really good moves. Over the 46 Championship games we will certainly require the resilient side".

"It was nice to have two fit centre-backs out there, which certainly helped. Russell Anderson and Dean Leacock were very good indeed; against two tricky strikers in Sidebe and Fuller".

"It was a great goal with Kris Commons again putting in a terrific ball and Chris Porter took it well. We've told Chris - and Rob Hulse - if they do play that lone striker role they have to be in the box as much as possible and Chris did that."

The Teams :

Rams:

Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Leacock (Moxey 69’), Anderson, Bailey, Green (Pringle 54’), Doyle, Commons (Martin 74’), Cywka (O'Brien 89’), Porter (Varney 76’) - Unused Sub: Deeney

Potters:

Begovic (Sorensen 62’), Huth (Higginbotham 66’), Collins, Whelan, Shawcross (Wilkinson 66’), Faye, Delap, Whitehead, Sidibe, Fuller (Tuncay 62’), Etherington (Lawrence 49’)

Crowd:

10,386

Next Match (Friendly):

Saturday July 31st v Birmingham City, 3pm Pride Park Stadium

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Photo: Action Images

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