Stoke manager Mark Robins hailed goalkeeper Viktor Johansson as “the best in the division” after his stunning late save in the 1-0 win at Derby.

David Ozho’s late shot looked destined for the net until Johansson plunged low to his right to push the ball away.

Johansson’s moment of brilliance preserved Stoke’s lead given to them early in the second half by Luke Graham, who headed in a free-kick for his first goal for the club.

Derby responded well with Ozho and Rhian Brewster missing decent chances while Stoke’s Justin Devenny missed a late opportunity to seal victory.

That would have proved costly but for Johansson, and his quality was appreciated by Robins.

The Stoke boss said: “He’s been incredible and again there’s still improvement there and we’re looking at everything, but as a goalkeeper, as a human being, he’s absolutely outstanding, there’s none better.

“I don’t think there’s any better in this division and he proves that week in, week out, every day in training.”

Robins was also impressed with the way his team stood up to second-half pressure to take the points.

“We gave the ball away too often and in one or two areas we looked tired but we dug out another three points,” Robins added.

“They threw everything at us but we defended really well, we got blocks in, we stopped crosses and broke things up and started counter-attacks, but we gave the ball away too cheaply in really poor areas which gave them momentum, hope and belief.

“It wasn’t a game for the purists by any stretch of the imagination, but it was one that you can learn an awful lot from and an awful lot about your players.

“I think we’d have gone under last year but we didn’t, we found the resilience to see the game out and that was really pleasing on the back of a three-game week. You can’t underestimate how difficult that is.”

For Derby head coach John Eustace it was another frustrating day for his side, who have yet to win at home this season.

“We asked for a reaction after Wednesday’s first 45 minutes and we certainly got that,” he said.

“I was very proud of the effort of the group today, we battled against a very good team and limited them to next to nothing. We created some decent chances ourselves, so to lose the game is frustrating.

“It is what it is at the moment, we’re not getting much luck. It’s a frustrating period for us but this is the Championship, teams go through periods like this and I think we’ve got a valid reason why it’s been difficult.

“We’ve got six or seven starters (missing) who would come into the team and make us stronger, but with the effort of the group up to now we could easily have got a couple more wins so it’s important we keep believing in the process.

“The injuries haven’t helped, we’re going through a difficult period but we’ll come through it. Also, it’s my job to win games, there’s no excuses. My head’s on the door and I understand we haven’t won enough games at the moment and it’s my responsibility.”