Misfiring Ince still a goal-den recruit for Potters boss O’Neill

TOM INCE was backed to come good again by Stoke boss Michael O’Neill after a stalemate with relegation rivals Reading.

The former Derby winger was left to rue his luck after going close to securing Stoke back-to-back wins at the bet365 Stadium.

Ince’s curling shot late on missed the target by inches and O’Neill’s side had to settle for a point that left them in the Championship’s bottom three.

It also means Ince – a

£10million signing from Huddersfield more than a year ago – has just one goal to his credit all season.

But O’Neill is sure he will prosper.

“Tom’s a proven Championship goalscorer and he’s had as many as maybe

20 in a season,” said the Potters boss.

“He’s suffering a little bit in that aspect of his game.

“His work-rate and energy were good for his third game in a week but he’s had games where he’s had much more impact in an attacking sense.

“A lot of this issue is about confidence and form.

“The player’s ability is still there so we have no doubt that Tom will come good.”

Ince was clearly up for it as Stoke aimed to build on their moraleboosting 3-0 midweek defeat of lowly Luton.

He signaled his attacking intent with a crisply struck volley that was charged down as Stoke began brightly.

And then he was left to curse the referee’s assistant as he was flagged for offside when he turned in Sam Vokes’ deflected effort on the half-hour. Ince went close with a dipping volley as Stoke ended the first-half on a high.

And he looked the hosts’ best bet of forcing a breakthrough after the interval when he saw an ambitious volley sail wide.

In the closing stages he was left holding his head in his hands with his near-miss – the closest either keeper came to making a save in a lacklustre affair.

Their failure to score denied them the chance to leapfrog Luton in the table and left them in 18th spot.

The Royals, four places higher up the ladder, had their moments as well and ex-Stoke favourite Charlie Adam produced a classy display.

He showed the locals what they were missing with plenty of lovely touches as well as a right-footed shot which whistled just wide before being taken off after 65 minutes.

“I breathe easy when Charlie’s on the ball,” said Reading boss Mark Bowen. “And I know he’s got that touch of class we’ll need to climb the table.

“Everyone has to be patient as we are trying to build something and become a club that’s not spending time in the bottom four or five.”