Yahoo Sport 
Stoke City player ratings vs Preston as late drama livens up result written in the stars
Stoke City couldn’t take advantage of eight late minutes against 10 men as they played out a goalless draw with Preston North End.
There was an ominous line in the match day programme that no two clubs in English football have played out more 0-0 draws than these two and this one was probably up there with the most nil-nillest of them.
Wouter Burger did slide a shot into the post at close range from a Stoke corner mid-way through the first half and Milutin Osmajic somehow conspired to scuff up a free hit at the back post when he was unmarked and seemed certain just to tap home.
READ MORE: Narcis Pelach identifies missing ingredient as Stoke City fail to make possession count vs Preston
READ MORE: Narcis Pelach makes 'not happy' admission as Stoke City slug out draw with Preston
The game finally burst into life in injury time when Preston keeper Freddie Woodman was shown a red card for deliberate handball outside his area after being tackled by Tom Cannon. Woodman took his time to leave the pitch so that Dai Cornell could put on his gloves and Stoke ended up being able to play about 25 seconds of eight minutes that were added as visiting players took it in turns to play out time.
If the early stages were spent camped in the mid-third, Stoke slowly built up pressure until a series of corners around the 20th minute. Bae Junho and Million Manhoef were tasked with swinging deliveries under keeper Freddie Woodman’s bar and Junho got him flapping with one, with the rebound dropping for Wouter Burger at the back post. Burger slid in but could only clip the ball onto the right post. It was Burger who was lurking at the back post again when Woodman couldn’t get a glove on a Manhoef deliver but this time the midfielder lacked the conviction to smash it home.
The biggest chance, however, came at the other end after Sam Greenwood had managed to hang a deep cross over Viktor Johansson towards unmarked Milutin Osmajic, who pretty much just let it him and drop for a stunned Johansson to gratefully pick up.
Stoke’s most likely route to success seemed like being from a set piece and Woodman had his heart in his mouth when Jordan Storey headed a Manhoef corner straight into the back of Jack Whatmough’s head and the ball span only narrowly past the post.
But Stoke struggled to sustain pressure close enough to the Preston goal and a point apiece looked certain until Woodman’s late rush of blood.
Wilmot tried to play in Cannon but Whatmough and Woodman got into a muddle, Cannon nicked the ball and Woodman grabbed it back. Andre Vidigal eventually hit the resultant free-kick into the wall, deflected out for a corner and that was that.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium
Johansson: Flung himself to his right to tip a Whiteman long ranger around the post. Saw a couple of deep crosses float over his head. 6.5
Tchamadeu: Frustratingly raw at times, like a foul throw or choice of pass, but does have the attributes to suddenly make something happen. 6
Stevens: A couple of uncharacteristic moments when he let in crosses from Greenwood and Potts but otherwise gives the defence so much more confidence. 6
Phillips: Willing to take responsibility and improving with how he can shepherd forwards where he wants. 6.5
Gibson: Saw a lot more of the ball than Stoke would like, particularly in home matches. Still, an important clean sheet. 6
Seko: Can pick a pass as well as keep the ball moving but he was missing the players darting ahead of him to really influence the game. Chipped in defensively with blocks and interceptions. 6.5
Burger: Alert as he slid in at the back post to touch a flapped-at corner onto the woodwork but seemed to lack conviction with header from second corner. Silly booking. 6
Moran: Back from illness and not quite at his 100 per cent zip. A couple of moments when he was able to move the ball quickly but couldn’t unlock the defence. 5.5
Manhoef: Able to carry the ball a long way up the pitch on the counter-attack but couldn’t find enough space in places where he could do damage. 6
Junho: Tried to keep moving in the final third and inswinging corners tried to pressure on Woodman. 6
Cannon: Looked to take shots early and try to get behind Preston’s three centre-halves. His darting run forced red card. 6
Substitutes
Sidibe (for Burger, 54): Tasked with keeping the ball moving a bit more quickly around central midfield. 6
Wilmot (for Tchamadeu, 54): Tried to give Stoke extra width down the right and his pass led to Woodman red card. 6
Koumas (for Moran, 68): Added a bit of a spark with fresh legs on the left wing but never got a sniff at goal. 6
Bocat (for Stevens, 68): Has to be more switched on to deal with back post crosses and runners behind him. 5.5
Vidigal (for Manhoef, 86): Hit free-kick into the wall as he searched for late breakthrough. 5.5
Not used: Bonham, Rose, Ennis, Tezgel
Referee: Matt Donohue (Greater Manchester) 6
