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Stoke City player ratings vs Millwall as Ben Gibson shows leadership amid ref stinker
Ben Gibson burst forward with another captain’s goal to help Stoke City fight back to claim a draw with Millwall.
Stoke were trailing at the bet365 Stadium when Josh Coburn tapped in from close range just before half-time after a free-kick had deflected conveniently for the visitors.
Their record of having only conceded one goal in their last six games meant a difficult task for Stoke, particularly when referee Will Finnie bizarrely missed a clear penalty and red card when Wouter Burger was tugged back by Jake Cooper in the six-yard box at the start of the second half.
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But Stoke found a way to get back level and, just like they had found the winner last weekend against Derby, it came with a Bae Junho near post corner and Gibson leading a charge to the front post to head it in. That’s seven points in an important three games for Narcis Pelach and his side to go into another international break with growing confidence.
Stoke might have been ahead in the first 30 seconds following a flowing move that led to Million Manhoef finding space on the left to cross low for Tom Cannon to try to cushion a side footer past Lukas Jensen. It was a big chance and Cannon’s eyes had lit up but his shot slipped just the wrong side of the post.
It seemed obvious that opportunities like that were going to be at a premium or require a bit of magic. Bae Junho ran through the Millwall half similar to his goal at home against Middlesbrough last season but this time his shot was pushed around the post by Jensen. Cannon hit too close to the keeper when he was fed by Junho after Manhoef’s run into the box had been blocked.
Tom Bradshaw was first to threaten for the visitors, swivelling to shoot side when Stoke defenders were surprised there was no offside flag – but they looked like the kind of team that had been enjoying 1-0 wins recently. Femi Azeez headed into the side netting when he was picked out over Junior Tchamadeu running in at the back post by Ryan Wintle.
The breakthrough moment came in the 42nd minute. A Millwall free-kick wide on the left on the half-way line was played down the line for Azeez and his cross targeting the penalty spot was instead deflected off Manhoef wickedly to the front post, where Bradshaw touched across where Coburn was goalside of defenders to tap in.
Stoke were denied their clearest penalty of the season in a farcical decision at the start of the second half. Burger was clearly hauled back by Cooper inside the six-yard box as he went to tap in a corner. Cooper would have been sent off too for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. It was a mind-blowing miss from by rookie ref Finnie, who was a late call up for equally controversial whistler James Bell. To rub it in, Burger was booked for appealing and now faces an automatic one-game ban for five yellow cards.
Pelach rolled the dice with a triple sub. Lewis Koumas, Ben Wilmot and Michael Rose on for Burger, Junior Tchamadeu and Ashley Phillips.
Stoke were playing with fire in their belly after the injustice and, with the crowd urging them on, pulled level. Junho’s corner was almost sucked into the net by the Boothen End, with Gibson charging towards the front post to head home despite having his shirt pulled all the way by Japhet Tanganga.
Millwall were close to regaining their lead when Azeez paced past the Stoke defence and slipped a shot past Johansson but also the far post. And that was that. Millwall celebrated a hard-earned point at the end just as much as Stoke took heart from a draw too.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium:
Johansson: No long rangers to show off his acrobatics for once. No problem with all the basics though and took a naughty late kick from Wintle. 7
Tchamadeu: A little uncomfortable at times against Azeez and has to be careful defending back post crosses but much improved over space of a fortnight. 6
Bocat: Had hands full occasionally against Esse but better going forward and always searching for space to attack down the left. Blasted shot well over late on. 6
Phillips: A good test against Coburn and Bradshaw and willing to put himself about to make clearances. 6.5
Gibson: Shows determination and responsibility to attack near post corner with such gusto. Passing radar a little wonky on occasion. 7
Seko: Always wants the ball and can spin and move it on to put the team in a better position. Makes players around him better. 7
Burger: Denied a clear penalty when he was tugged back by Cooper and booked for protest to rub salt in the wounds. Useful passing range. 6.5
Moran: Full of energy and fight and good quick-touch play. Desperate to play on when early kicking meant he needed physio treatment. 6.5
Manhoef: Lovely first minute cross for Cannon and he kept floating between positions. Chances for himself were limited as expected but kept going. 6.5
Junho: At his best in the second half when he was gliding across the pitch with deft touches, little flicks, hard running and neat passes. 7.5
Cannon: Almost scored in the opening 30 seconds with cushioned shot. Had Tanganga close to tears with first-half aggression. 6.5
Substitutions
Wilmot (for Tchamadeu, 54): Alarming introduction when Azeez got goal side to fire shot past Johansson but wide. 6
Rose (for Phillips, 54): Ready to win headers and help Stoke build from back. 6
Koumas (for Burger, 54): Pace down the right and then through the middle to give Millwall something new to think about through closing stages. 6
Sidibe (for Moran, 67): Got the nod to help Stoke keep the ball moving. A chance to show he can be the next cab off the rank in midfield. 6
Thompson (for Bocat, 90): Late call at left-back when Bocat went down with cramp. 6
Not used: Bonham, Vidigal, Ennis, Tezgel.
Referee: Will Finnie (Bedfordshire) 2
Match rating: 6
