HOW THEY RATED
STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-1-2 BEN WILSON: Good positioning in his area and kicked long early on. Didn’t have a great deal to do in terms of saves with the two efforts on target hit straight at him. Commanded his area throughout. 7
MICHAEL ROSE: Defended well but one of many players guilty of giving the ball away to gift Stoke a chance on goal. Settled into the game and defended well overall. 7
KYLE MCFADZEAN: Continued his excellent form, heading and blocking everything that came his way as Stoke threatened from several set-pieces. Another colossal display from the skipper. 8
JONATHAN PANZO: Took a no-nonsense, safety-first approach in the first half and continued to defend well after the break when the Potters carried on having the majority of possession. 7
FANKATY DABO: Had his work cut out against the pacy Tariqe Fosu but defended really well throughout, linking nicely with Rose to keep things tight down the right-hand side. 7 GUSTAVO HAMER: Grew into the game when he was calm in possession. Sent a defence-splitting through ball to Allen to give City the second-half lead. Beat two men in the box and picked his spot with a stunning finish to double City’s lead in the 64th minute. 9
JOSH ECCLES: Busy in midfield alongside Hamer but allowed Baker too much space to send an early shot at goal. But did well overall, using the ball well in tight areas in the second half in another mature performance from the Academy graduate. 6.5
JAKE BIDWELL: Kept close tabs on former Sky Blues loan man Dujon Sterling who went off at the break. Solid on the left. 7
KASEY PALMER: Back in the starting line-up, the 25-year-old was deployed at the top of a midfield box with Allen and chased and pressed from the front from the first whistle. Linked up well with Gyokeres for City’s best chance of the first half. Sent Hamer on his way for his goal. 7
JAMIE ALLEN: Covered loads of ground out of possession to help City regain possession and gave City the 51st minute lead when played through by Hamer and finished smartly past the keeper. 8
VIKTOR GYOKERES: Had an early shot blocked but chances and attacks were few and far between in a difficult first half against a confident looking home side who enjoyed 70 per cent of possession in the first 35 minutes. Put a good shift in with plenty of hard running but well marshalled by Stoke’s defence. 6.5
SUBSTITUTES:
MARTYN WAGHORN (65 mins, for Palmer): Added fresh legs and helped manage City’s 2-0 lead, using his experience to good effect. 6.5 CALLUM O’HARE (76 mins, for Hamer): Stepped onto the field to a hero’s welcome from the vocal travelling fans. Put himself about well and almost scored late on with an angled shot that forced the keeper to save. 6 TODD KANE (89 mins, for Dabo): SUBS (NOT USED): Simon Moore (GK), Callum Doyle, Fabio Tavares, Jack Burroughs.
STOKE CITY (3-4-1-2): Joe Bursik; Phil Jagielka, Ben Wilmot, Morgan Fox; Dujon Sterling (HT, for Harry Clarke), Josh Laurent, Lewis Baker, Tariqe Fosu; Will Smallbone (Liam Delap, 73); Tyrese Campbell (Nick Powell, 57), Dwight Gayle (Jacob Brown, 57).
Subs (not used): Jack Bonham (GK), Aden Flint, Jordan Thompson.
GOALS: SKY BLUES: Allen (51), Hamer (65)
REFEREE: James Linington. ATTENDANCE: 22,453 (2,487 City) NEXT UP: Rotherham (h) tomorrow (7.45pm).