All the facts and figures ahead of Stoke City's Carling Cup quarter-final clash against Derby County at the Britannia Stadium

PREVIOUS MEETING

February 21, 2007

Derby 0

Stoke 2 (Higginbotham pen 14, Matteo 25)

DANNY Higginbotham launched Stoke on their way to a tremendous victory over potential promotion rivals – and against his old club to boot.

But his celebrations were soured somewhat after the final whistle when he was verbally goaded by a dozen or so Derby fans as he made his way from Stoke's jubilant fans towards the tunnel.

Higginbotham was forcibly restrained by Salif Diao, among others, to prevent the Stoke skipper responding with anything more forceful than a verbal riposte of his own.

Fortunately, there was no such restriction acting upon Stoke earlier in the evening as they effectively wrapped up their welcome win when Dominic Matteo headed home Lee Hendrie's corner barely midway through the first half.

Derby: Bywater, Edworthy, McEveley, Leacock (Mears, 16), Johnson, Teale, Jones (Pearson, 69), Oakley, Fagan, Howard, Macken (Lupoli, 61).

Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Griffin, Zakuani, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Matteo (Eustace, 63), Diao, Russell, Hendrie (Dickinson, 84), Sidibe (Rooney, 89).

Attendance: 24,897.

FORM GUIDE

Stoke: DWLWD

Derby: WWLDL

WHO WE'D LIKE TO SIGN

Miles Addison: Teenage midfielder-cum-defender is attracting a lot of attention and could be tempted by a bigger club.

WHO TO BOO

Kris Commons: He will be bracing himself for the usual treatment from his old fans if he is fit to play.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Rob Styles (Hants): refereed the 'war' with Arsenal pretty well on November 1 to almost endear him to the faithful after suffering years of their derision.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Stoke: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Dickinson, Cort, Ab Faye, Cresswell, Am Faye, Olofinjana, Delap, Sidibe, Pericard.

Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Stewart, Powell, Tonkins, Commons, Addison, Green, Kazmierczak, Hulse, Ellington.

PREDICTION

Both sides miss chances to avoid the freezing spectacle of extra-time, but mercifully Richard Cresswell wins it in the 113th minute just as penalties are looming.