WAYNE ROONEY scored a spectacular free-kick as Derby County ran riot at Pride Park.
The ex-England skipper grabbed his second goal for the Rams – but this time he ended up on the winning side.
Rooney earned a standing ovation when coming off in the 76th minuteCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Martyn Waghorn opened the scoring on Friday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Rooney opened his Rams account at Luton in midweek, but Derby lost to the bottom placed side.
That was never going to happen here as Phillip Cocu’s men dominated from start to finish and brought Stoke’s unbeaten four-game run to a shuddering halt.
Derby were already two up – with Martyn Waghorn and Chris Martin scoring in the space of three minutes – when Rooney stepped up to take a 67th minute free-kick after Tom Lawrece had been fouled on the edge of the area.
Rooney shaped to take it, and when he did, it was a superbly clipped free-kick into the top corner that gave Potters keeper Jack Butland no chance.
Stoke should have known Rooney would score – this was his seventh goal in 12 league meetings against them.
But Rooney had been pulling the strings all night and Derby were not finished yet as the impressive Jayden Bogle raced through to fire home number four.
Rooney even shook off an injury scare as he took a blow just before the break.
But he returned stronger than ever to put the seal on the win.
Cocu could even afford to take Rooney off in the second half with the game won.
Stoke had begun the game by securing a loan deal for Aston Villa defender James Chester and they were edging towards signing Chris Brunt from West Bromwich Albion – as player who knows Potters boss Michael O’Neill well from his Northern Ireland days.
And they started in encouraging fashion with Sam Clucas going close.
But Derby took command after 21 minutes when Craig Forsyth’s cross from the left found Waghorn eight yards out and he scored with a diving header.
Three minutes later the recalled Martin smashed the ball past Butland after a great run and pass from the dangerous Duane Holmes who took the Ram’s man of the match award.
Lawrence then almost made it three when he fired wide from 20 yards out.
Derby rose to 13th with the winCredit: PA:Press Association
Stoke had their chances and former Ram Tom Ince went close before the break.
But Waghorn could have had his second of the night before that when Rooney’s inch perfect pass found the Derby striker but he put his angled shot over the bar.
It was a win that lifted Derby into 13th spot, seven points off the play-offs – and Cocu will not be giving up on a top six spot yet despite the fact that he was unable to land his top targets in the January window.
Stoke had been enjoying a revival in recent weeks under O’Neill, but they were second best on the night.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
