Veteran defender Gerry Taggart celebrated extending his loan deal at Stoke with a priceless second-half winner to compound Derby's relegation worries.
The 33-year-old Northern Ireland international will stay with the Potters for another month and, after missing last week's FA Cup clash against Wimbledon with
a shin injury, he returned with a bang.
Taggart's powerful 65th-minute header completed a fine comeback by Tony Pulis' men who had to battle from a goal down to earn all three points.
Derby striker Lee Morris left the home side all shook up in the opening minute when he drilled home from six yards on the Britannia Stadium's annual 'Elvis Day'.
Morris, linked with a move to Sheffield United earlier this week, pounced on a deflection to slide the ball past goalkeeper Ed de Goey - back between the posts
after a week-long absence with a groin injury.
The Rams were then forced on to the back foot by Stoke who bagged a deserved equaliser through striker Ade Akinbiyi.
The former Crystal Palace frontman showed no signs of the hamstring injury he picked up in the FA Cup clash against Wimbledon when he capitalised on Derby
defender Michael Johnson's error and produced a clinical finish from the edge of the penalty area in the 29th minute.
Johnson misjudged the bounce from a De Goey clearance and Akinbiyi took full advantage to haul the Potters level.
Akinbiyi brought a smart save out of Derby keeper Lee Grant, also back after a hamstring problem, on the quarter-hour mark but it was not all one-way traffic as George Burley's side came back strongly.
Tom Huddlestone twice tested De Goey with stinging drives, Morris almost claimed his second goal 10 minutes before the break but his shot flew over the
crossbar, and Spanish striker Manuel Manel went close with a header on the stroke of half time.
Derby were left to rue these missed opportunities eight minutes after the restart.
Russell had been felled by Luciano Zavagno on the right and John Eustace delivered a telling centre onto the head of Taggart who thumped the ball into the top corner.
Akinbiyi almost repeated Taggart's effort when he met Clive Clarke's but he was unable to steer his header on target.
It was his last contribution of the afternoon as he was forced from the action moments later through injury and replaced by Carl Asaba.
Derby huffed and puffed in their search for a leveller and Burley introduced Marcus Tudgay and Candido Costa to improve their chances but Stoke's defence,
marshalled superbly by Taggart, held firm.
Teams
Stoke de Goey, Halls, Taggart, Thomas, Clarke,
Neal (Svard 86), Eustace, Russell, Hoekstra (Commons 90),
Noel-Williams, Akinbiyi (Asaba 71).
Subs Not Used: Cutler, Marcus Hall.
Booked: Thomas, Neal.
Goals: Akinbiyi 29, Taggart 53.
Derby Grant, Zavagno, Johnson, Mawene, Edwards, Huddlestone,
Taylor, Bolder (Tudgay 74), Morris, Manel, Bradbury (Costa 74).
Subs Not Used: Camp, Valakari, Boertien.
Booked: Manel, Taylor.
Goals: Morris 1.
Att: 16,402
Ref: A Kaye (W Yorkshire).
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