Middlesbrough target Malcolm Christie helped Derby secure the points at Stoke
today with a goal that would have graced the top flight.
Christie took his league tally for the season to eight by thumping home a
superb volley in the 49th minute.
Whether cash-strapped Derby will be able to hang onto him while the transfer
window remains open remains to be seen.
Middlesbrough are keen to take Christie and defender Chris Riggott - absent
today with a knee injury - on loan with a view to a permanent £3million transfer
in the summer.
Christie's goal gave Derby the edge only for Chris Greenacre to draw the home
side level.
However Luciano Zavango and Lee Morris also found the target to leave Stoke
still in deep trouble near the foot of the table.
Derby carved out the first chance of the match after seven minutes when the
home side were caught cold.
Morris went on a surging run and released Giorgi Kinkladze on the right.
He weighed up his options before sending a weak shot into the arms of Steve
Banks.
Stoke retaliated and James O'Connor sent Frazer Richardson clear with a neat
through ball.
He tried to pick out Chris Iwelumo but only succeeded in finding Derby
goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Bjarni Gudjonsson then split the Derby defence by delivering a good cross in
the 33rd minute.
Richardson, on loan from Leeds, got on the end of it but his touch let him
down.
Banks then came to Stoke's rescue two minutes later after Morris took the
initiative.
He skipped away for Derby and rattled in a shot from six yards. Banks,
however, showed good reflexes to get down quickly and smother his effort.
That near miss rattled Stoke and they broke forward only for Greenacre to
shoot the wrong side of the post.
The home side kept up the pressure and Grant turned away a shot from Marcus
Hall after a neat one-two with Gudjonsson.
Morris should have put Derby ahead in the first minute of the second half but
sent a shot from six yards straight into the arms of Banks.
Then Christie released Adam Bolder a minute later only for Banks to tip his
effort over the top.
There was no respite for Stoke with Christie making the breakthrough in the
49th minute with a wonderful volley following a corner from Kinkladze.
Stoke drew level in the 63rd minute through Greenacre who side-footed the ball
home.
Derby got themselves in a tangle when Brynjar Gunnarsson delivered the cross
and Greenacre made no mistake.
The visitors regained the lead in the 73rd minute after Christie and Kinkladze
both had shots blocked.
Kinkladze took the corner nd Zavango got away from his marker to power in a
header.
It was his second goal in successive games after he converted a penalty in the
draw against Gillingham last week.
Morris was rewarded for his industry and skill by getting Derby's third goal a
minute from time with a thumping drive.
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