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How Narcis Pelach is making Stoke City change its tune as 'keepers pay tribute to Matija Sarkic
Ben Gibson headed in another goal to help Stoke City come back from a goal down to draw with in-form Millwall but that’s only half the story. Here are the talking points from the bet365 Stadium.
Another big decision goes against Stoke but a change in tune
Against Derby at home and then against MiIlwall. Not even debatable to the point that even both opposition managers have held up their hands to say they got away with one.
Stoke went on to beat Derby anyway, although it was a bit more nervous than it probably would have been if Nat Phillips had been sent off. But chances were always going to be hard to come by against a solid Millwall team and the reaction from everyone in the stadium must have told referee Will Finnie and his assistants that they’d missed something massive when he didn’t spot Wouter Burger being pulled back by Jake Cooper. A penalty and red card would have changed everything.
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It took a stadium riled and united by injustice to help lift Stoke to still find a way past a team that had only let in one in their last six games.
But it was an interesting and important point made by Narcis Pelach post-match. The stands can rail about the ref and can increase the pressure but inside the changing room he wants no excuses, no woe is me wallowing. Control the things they can control and fight until you get what you need no matter what else happens. That feels like a positive stance to take.
Bae Junho shows signs of class
Bae Junho gave a reminder of why Stoke fans ended last season so excited by his potential. When he’s in that kind of mood, it’s like he’s gliding with such beautiful control of the ball. He can find space where it doesn’t look like there will be any, his flicks and deft touches can get the best out of those around him and he can be a pivotal player.
He still needs to add those game-changing moments in open play but this was still his fifth assist in the league so far this season.
A team with guts
Well done to Ben Gibson, who scored for a second successive home game from a set piece by being prepared to attack it aggressively.
This was another example of Stoke reacting well to a set-back, which has been a problem plaguing the club for a long time. It’s a big, important tick from the last few weeks. Pelach and his staff have made a step forward by working with players who want to improve too.
It won’t always be possible to bounce back from a goal down or an own goal or a refereeing blunder but by heck it’s a relief not to always be blown off course by one incident.
Stoke reach this bookmark in 13th, five points off the play-off places and four points above the bottom three and with one defeat in eight. Things can change quickly in this division but at the moment it feels like they’re looking upwards.
Stoke keepers’ tribute to Matija Sarkic
Matija Sarkic, who gave a glimpse into how good a goalkeeper he could be during his loan at Stoke, was a good friend of Viktor Johansson. They had been together in the youth ranks at Aston Villa, two ambitious, smart and energetic young men finding their way in English football.
It is still such a shock that Sarkic, who had starred for Millwall last season, died in the summer at the age of 26. Stoke’s keepers wore Sarkic 1 tops in their warm-ups.
Johansson said: “Thinking about Mati still makes me very emotional. We stayed in contact, would always swap shirts when our teams played each other and I am grateful to have one of his shirts still at home.
“It has been so touching to see the messages and tributes to Mati in the past five months. I have spoken to Mati’s dad, Bojan, he called me following the podcast (the Potters' Pod podcast, when Johansson paid tribute to his friend) and told me about the photo in their home, which really moved me.
“They know how much Mati meant to me and I was overwhelmed to hear that was the case. I am trying to do well for him, he will always be with me and I don’t doubt he is up there spreading positive energy.”
Enda Stevens’ record in starts for Stoke
The eye test says he’s influential and the numbers hammer it home. It is now 11 wins in the 23 league games he’s started since joining as a free agent in summer 2023 compared to nine in 38 when he hasn’t.
Of course there are always different other factors to consider but his quality and steady head cannot be underestimated. What a shame that he is 34 and can’t start all the time. What has been described as ‘a knock’ late on in the mid-week win at Blackburn ruled him out against Millwall.
Eric Bocat was asked to step up. He can show glimpses of what he can give Stoke, like when he carried the team up the pitch with a run down the left via a one-two with Bae Junho in the first half – and when he ghosted up to collect a pass from Million Manhoef in the box to shoot over the bar before he went off with cramp.
Stevens leaves big boots when he’s not available, however, and Bocat knows the standards he has to reach.
