Wilmot’s 35-yard strike not enough as new-look Stoke fall to defeat against Preston

Andrew Hughes’ header condemned Stoke City to a fourth loss from their last six Championship outings as Preston North End took all three points at the Bet365 Stadium.

Summer signing Ben Wilmot’s early second-half stunner opened the scoring as the 22-year-old received the ball from James Chester before unleashing a rocket from over 35-yards straight into the top right corner, beating Daniel Iversen’s outstretched arms.

City were pegged back shortly before the hour mark as Brad Potts latched onto the end of Daniel Johnson’s looping cross, firing in on the volley past Adam Davies.

Hughes converted the winner in the 81st minute as the Potters failed to mark the defender from a corner. Most disappointingly for Stoke, both Preston goals game from unmarked players finishing from inside the box.

After City’s defeat to Derby County four days earlier, manager Michael O’Neill switched from a 3-5-2 formation, which has been the most common set-up for Stoke along with many other Championship sides this season, to the more conventional 4-2-3-1 for Stoke’s first test of 2022.

With many key players absent including Harry Souttar, Nick Powell, Jordan Thompson and Romaine Sawyers, the Potters had to adapt.

Many fans in the wake of Thursday’s defeat were calling for a systematic switch.

The 3-5-2 required ball-playing defenders, attacking wing-backs and a balanced midfield, but with Mario Vrancic, Sam Clucas and Joe Allen being the only senior midfielders available, the latest loss showed how unbalanced that trio were in the previous system.

City operated with a 4-2-3-1 when the Northern Irishman first took charge in November 2019 until the start of 2021. During that period, Stoke were involved in high-scoring affairs against Hull City, Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest on course to avoiding relegation.

Tom Ince was a regular for Stoke that season alongside Tyrese Campbell who flourished on the right-wing. The duo returned to those positions on Monday with Championship veteran Steven Fletcher playing as the lone striker.

Vrancic, Clucas and Allen retained their places in midfield, with the Welshman sitting in front of Morgan Fox, James Chester, Danny Batth and Wilmot.

From the outset, Stoke looked more threatening in attack, something the Potters hadn’t been against the Rams. Ince and Campbell provided pace out wide and came close themselves, an early counter-attack from a Lilywhite’s corner almost saw the latter convert a curling shot from outside the box.

Clucas, a man who netted 11 times during the 2019/2020 campaign, also looked dangerous. Fox and Wilmot pushed up into attacking areas, with both providing an extra option on the overlap, or occasionally an inverted run in Fox’s case.

Defensively, the Potters kept Preston pressure to a minimum as both sides went into the interval goalless. Only Alan Browne and Ben Whiteman had chances from range which both went high and wide into the Boothen End.

After Wilmot’s screamer, Stoke looked to score more but a series of brave North End blocks prevented the home side from doubling their lead. Clucas, Campbell, Vrancic and Ince all had efforts that were stopped within a matter of moments.

Substitute Alfie Doughty also had a chance saved by Iversen, prior to Potts’ equaliser.

Going forwards. Stoke looked like a smoother machine, however, still needed some oil in the joints at times with the midfield often static.

A flat-back-four is a more simple formation to play, Chester and Batth formed a partnership in the same system in 2020 when the Welshman arrived on loan from Aston Villa. Fox too enjoyed a spell at left-back last season, as his deep crosses assisted City goals.

Although O’Neill’s side were inconsistent defensively, he gave the Potters the platform to push on and score goals. Stoke haven’t reached those heights this season but have ground out vital victories.

Ultimately, Stoke’s Achilles’ heel in recent weeks has been conceding. It only takes one goal against them for heads to drop. This also happened under Nathan Jones in the early stages of the 2019/2020 season and while quickly rectified by O’Neill upon his arrival, it looks to have crept back into Stoke’s game.

A three-goal lead at the start of the second half against Cardiff City in October was not enough as the Potters surrendered their lead within 15 minutes and an Ince equaliser against Derby on Thursday was wiped out after a late Colin Kazim-Richards winner.

Stoke have often scored first in games that they have lost this season including matches against Sheffield United, Millwall and, of course, Preston

The Potters were also without Josh Tymon (COVID-19) and Tommy Smith was benched after his partner gave birth on Sunday. Academy graduate Tom Edwards was the latest addition to the injury list after he sustained a knee injury following his return from a loan spell with New York Red Bulls.

Stoke will look to keep their playoff hopes alive when they visit Barnsley next Wednesday, but before then an FA Cup clash against Leyton Orient will give O’Neill the opportunity to inject young blood into the side and to provide minutes to fringe players.

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