Following on from a game of 2 halves for the Potters that finished 0-0 against Preston, here are my player ratings:
Adam Davies – 6.5 – Made a great save in the 2nd half to deny Tom Barkhuizen . Commanded his area well for the most part too.
Tommy Smith – 6 – Got forward often but left defence exposed at times due to being high up the pitch.
James Chester – 6 – Looked shaky at times . Picked up a questionable yellow card but was important to Stoke’s playing out from the back.
Harry Souttar – 6.5 – Extremely unlucky to see red after a tangling of legs with Browne. Unlucky not to score from a corner earlier in the game.
Rhys Norrington-Davies - 6 – Had license to get forward and got into good positions. Seems to struggle at the last hurdle though.
Joshua Tymon – 6 – A surprise return to the starting XI. Had a great start to the game, coming close with a chance that he probably should’ve buried. Seemed to dwell on that chance and never recovered.
John Obi-Mikel ( C ) – 7 – Carried and protected the ball well, always made himself available for a pass. Had his token edge of the box shot that went over.
Sam Clucas – 6.5 – Looked a lot more like himself. Would’ve probably been sent off had he stayed on for 5 minutes longer.
Nick Powell – 6.5 – Has been somewhat off the pace in recent weeks but he’s got enough credit in the bank this season to be let off. Couple of decent moves and crosses and would have had an assist had Fletcher been onside.
Steven Fletcher – 6.5 – Still waiting for that illusive 10th of the season. Put the ball in the back of the net but unfortunately was offside again. Eventually subbed off for Sam Vokes.
Christian Phelps-Norton – 7.5 - Pace. Energy. Skill. Confidence to run at players. A true breath of fresh air and was unlucky not to have won one or possibly two penalty shouts. MOTM for me.
Substitutes:
Jordan Thompson – 6.5 – Came on and tidied Stoke’s midfield up.
Jacob Brown – 6 – Nearly got the winner for Stoke before it was cleared off the line. Good pressing as usual.
Sam Vokes – 6 – Pretty much ineffective. Yet to add to that one goal this season.
Substitutes not used:
Angus Gunn, Kieran Coates, Danny Batth, Connor Taylor, Jordan Cousins, Rabbi Matondo.
Referee:
James Linington – 3 – Missed at least 2 stonewall penalties for Stoke. Gave a shockingly poor handball decision against Sam Clucas. Questionable red card for Souttar too.
Overall Stoke Performance Rating: 6.5 – Stoke just don’t seem to be the finished package yet. A few signings and sales away from being a play off contender. Should have put Preston away long before the red card. Just not clinical enough.
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