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Stoke City player ratings vs Sheffield United as Tyrese Campbell rubs salt in old wounds
Tyrese Campbell gave his old supporters and detractors the shush finger as Stoke City were well beaten at Sheffield United.
Campbell, who has seen Stoke’s fall from grace at first hand over the last seven years, helped to showcase the gulf between where the Potters currently stand compared to his new club, aspiring promotion candidates Sheffield United. He got the second in a 2-0 home win after a dreadful mistake from Ben Gibson. Kieffer Moore had tapped in the first during the first half.
Stoke had their moments – none better than a one-on-one for Lewis Koumas – but Viktor Johansson was needed again to give the game a sense of competitiveness. Stoke’s season won’t be defined by a defeat at Bramall Lane, where no away team has won yet this term, but it doesn’t help the mood of a fan base which has been starved of success.
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Stoke’s ploy was obvious to stand off the hosts and stay in shape, stay compact, and limit chances. It meant that neither side had any meaningful moment through the opening stages – but then Stoke were punished when they gifted away a free-kick on the edge of their area, Andrew Moran accused of fouling Oliver Arblaster. The free-kick from Arblaster went under the wall but bounced kindly back out of the area for Alfie Gilchrist to fire a shot away which deflected via Moore, who had got free of Tchamadeu, past Viktor Johansson.
Sheffield United dominated large parts and danced too easily through Stoke at times – it was 14 shots to two in the first half – but the visitors actually created a couple of decent opportunities of their own. A neat passing move from left-back to right wing ended with Tchamadeu being able to pick his spot as he cut into the box, but sending a mis-kicked left footer dribbling slowly wide. Phillips had a pretty clear header straight at keeper Michael Cooper when Million Manhoef dinked a central free-kick over a static defence.
But Vini Souza drilled a long range blaster dangerously on target and Johansson needed to spring to his left to tip it away. Moore had a knack for finding space in the area too, whether that was down to his movement or Stoke’s poor marking, and he was disappointed to head one Harrison Burrows cross over the bar and another just wide.
Pelach swapped Tom Cannon for Junho at half-time and Manhoef lolloped a 35-yard free-kick towards the top corner but far too slowly to trouble Cooper.
And Stoke were soon two goals behind with a dreadful piece of defending. Harry Souttar tried to pick out Rak-Sakyi running down the right wing and Gibson eased to slide across and make the interception – only he stayed down, allowing Rak-Sakyi to calmly pick up the ball, run inside and pass to Campbell, who shuffled the ball onto his left foot to turn and slot past Ben Wilmot and Johansson.
Phillips had another good chance from the second phase of a corner but lashed wide when well-placed and Johansson had to fly again to tip another Souza top-corner-bound long ranger past the post. It would have been 2-1 but for an excellent Cooper save when Moran intercepted a pass forward and released Koumas into a one-on-one. The forward tried to nudge it into the bottom right corner but couldn’t beat Cooper.
Johansson was still the busier keeper and he was extremely brave to dive at the feet of Moore and agile to stop a shot from Jamie Shackleton. Stoke are relying him a lot more than they would like.
Here are the player ratings from Bramall Lane:
Johansson: Excellent flying saves to stop Souza long rangers and has to be helped by defence and midfield not to face so many shots. 8.5
Wilmot: Didn’t always judge long balls and will be haunted that he allowed Campbell any chance with his left foot. 5.5
Phillips: Gave Stoke a much-needed physical presence on his recall to the side. Made challenges and twice had chances to be on the scoresheet. 6
Gibson: Daft yellow card picked up inside the Sheffield United half for shove on Rak-Sakyi, who was testing him with skill and pace. Awful mistake for second goal. 3
Tchamadeu: Struggling with the step up at the moment, wasting decent chance at the end of good move and losing Moore for opener. Can’t wander offside while looking across the line and seriously needs to practise throw-ins. 3
Stevens: Laid a wreath for Stoke in honour of his old teammate George Baldock on his first return to Bramall Lane as an opponent. 6
Burger: Has to step up and accept responsibility as one of the senior men and lead with better and more forceful play. Could study videos of Souza for starters. 4
Moran: Useful quick play when Stoke are on the counter – excellent work to set up one-on-one for Koumas – but this experience being tasked with more defensive responsibility will show what he still needs to add to his game. 6
Manhoef: Frustrated as he struggled to break free of the shadow of Souza, who was always ready to keep him on a short lead with the kind of central midfielder performance Stoke would desperately need. 3.5
Koumas: Fed off scraps on the narrow left of a front three in the first half and was asked to lead the line in the second. Kicking himself for not burying one-on-one. 5.5
Cannon: A hard 45 minutes leading the line with only six touches and no chances. 3.5
Substitutes
Junho (for Cannon, 46): Added a threat when he came off the bench, with skill and a desire to make something happen. 6.5
Bocat (for Gibson, 63): Gave Stoke an option down the left as a wing-back while Stevens slipped inside after Gibson howler. 6
Seko (for Burger, 76): Rare sighting of late summer signing and took up a useful position in front of the back line. 6
Vidigal (for Tchamadeu, 87): Thrown on for the closing stages as he continues to try to grind off the rustiness. 6
Not used: Bonham, Rose, Ennis, Thompson, Tezgel.
Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire) 5
Match rating: 4
