Stoke City player ratings vs Sheffield United as full-time scenes tell a story
Reaction from the bet365 Stadium after a miserable defeat to Sheffield United
Stoke City are left hoping for a favour from their rivals after falling to a miserable 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield United.
Sam McCallum opened the scoring late in the first half at the bet365 Stadium when his soft header at a corner went through Viktor Johansson. It was 2-0 late in the second half when Andre Brooks was on hand at close range to finish a swift counter-attack.
Stoke’s chances at the other end were few and far between. Bae Junho had an effort saved and Ali Al-Hamadi couldn’t convert a one-on-one but it wasn’t the kind of all-guns-blazing response that had been the hope after the debacle at Leeds United.
Stoke could be saved by other results – such as a defeat for Luton Town or Derby County on Saturday – or otherwise they will head to Derby with their fate still in their own hands. Avoid defeat there and they survive.
The visitors had a big penalty call in the 20th minute when Femi Seriki skipped past Gooch into the box and the Stoke man responded with a shove in his side. Seriki hit the deck but ref Jarred Gillett refused to blow his whistle, putting it down as a shoulder charge.
Stoke were conceding too many corners – and were ready to concede corners – against a side with Kieffer Moore in attack and it was only a matter of time until they were made to pay. That happened in the 38th minute when Manhoef unforgivably let his man run past him down the Stoke right. A cross from Rhian Brewster hit Lawal and bounced across goal for McCallum to head through Johansson and in at the near post.
