Derby County travelled to the Bet365 Stadium for a Championship meeting with Stoke City on Saturday.
Derby County have struggled when playing away from Pride Park in the 2024/25 campaign.
Ahead of taking on Stoke City, the Rams had notched a worryingly low two points in their opening away fixtures of the season.
Thankfully, they have been solid at home and sat 13th in the Championship table prior to kick-off against the Potters.
Ahead of the fixture, Paul Warne revealed injury blows to Kenzo Goudmijn and Kane Wilson, leaving the Derbyshire outfit very short of options at right-back.
Ryan Nyambe is set to miss the majority of the season through injury and with Wilson now out, Joe Ward was handed a rare start against Stoke.
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Derby County fans furious at referee after Stoke City defeat
Ward made 28 appearances in all competitions for the Rams last term but was in and out of the team amid injury struggles.
This term has seen the 29-year-old make just one start in the Carabao Cup and earn 15 minutes of action off the bench in the Championship prior to Saturday.
And after being thrust into the starting line-up on Saturday, it is fair to say Ward did not handle the occasion well.
However, while Ward played a big role in the defeat on Saturday, fans were more irate with the poor refereeing on the day and let their feelings be known on social media after the match.
One fan wrote: “Never seen a ref give us a throw in a lino give them a throw-in which was clearly arse throw in for a ref to give it them.”
A second added: “Second free kick was soft. Blatant foul on Phillips missed from the corner. Refs have to be better. That’s not acceptable.”
A third stated: “How has the ref missed that – shocker,” while another added: “Another horrific referee beyond a joke now. Clear offside and a clear foul for both goals. Time for the club to ask serious questions of the EFL.”
A fifth wrote: “I hate VAR but the referees in the Championship need it. They’re absolutely incapable of doing their job.”
A sixth added: “That was definitely a foul in there, joke referee,” with another Derby fan writing: “I am once again COMPLETELY BAFFLED AT HOW INEPT REFEREES ARE.”
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Paul Warne has big Derby County problem after Stoke City
While the referee on the day was poor against Stoke, it is now clear that Warne has a major problem at right-back.
With Nyambe’s season all but over, the Derby boss now faces an anxious wait to learn the extent of Wilson’s injury.
If the latter is out for a lengthy period, it leaves the Rams without a single decent right-back option going forward.
Derby have two more games to play before the November international break and fans will likely now be dreading them if Ward has to start both ties.