Stoke City manager Mark Robins praised goalkeeper Viktor Johansson as the best in the division following a crucial late save in their match against Derby County. Johansson’s intervention came deep into the game when he dived low to his right to deny David Ozoh’s shot, preserving Stoke’s 1-0 lead secured shortly after halftime.

The lone goal came in the 49th minute from Luke Graham, who scored his first goal for Stoke with a header from Ethan Galbraith’s free-kick. Despite Derby’s efforts, including chances from Ozoh and Rhian Brewster, Stoke held firm to claim all three points. Justin Devenny had a late opportunity to extend the lead but failed to convert.

Robins commended Johansson’s consistent performances on and off the pitch, describing him as “absolutely outstanding” and unmatched in the division. “He proves that week in, week out and every day in training,” Robins said.

The Stoke manager also highlighted his team’s resilience, especially under the intense second-half pressure exerted by Derby. “We gave the ball away too often and in one or two areas we looked tired, but we dug out another three points,” Robins noted. He acknowledged that the match was not a display of technical brilliance but emphasized the value in how his players coped with adversity. “We’d have gone under last year but we didn’t; we found the resilience to see the game out,” he said, pointing to the physical demands of a congested fixture schedule.

The first half saw Stoke create early opportunities, with Lamine Cisse setting up Jack McGlynn, whose shot lacked sufficient power to trouble Derby’s goalkeeper Josh Vickers. Derby struggled to penetrate Stoke’s defense for much of the half, though Sam Szmodics had a goalbound shot blocked late on.

Derby increased their pressure after conceding but were unable to break through. Brewster's shot in the 63rd minute went wide, and later in the match, Ben Johnson and Devenny combined to create a chance that was eventually thwarted by Derby’s defense. The visitors nearly equalized in the 89th minute before Johansson’s crucial save.

Derby manager expressed frustration over injuries and a difficult spell for his team. He noted that several key players were absent, hindering their performance but remained hopeful that the squad’s effort would eventually translate into wins. The head coach also took responsibility for the team’s current results, acknowledging the challenges of the Championship and the pressures inherent in his role.

Stoke’s victory adds to their momentum amid a demanding period, while Derby face the challenge of overcoming injuries and finding consistency moving forward.