Bristol City player ratings vs Stoke: Risible Robins bow out with defensive horror show

Max O’Leary - 5

Not how he wanted to end what has been a fine season in which he’s started all 52 games for City in league and cup. He could do little with any of the goals, really, as Stoke’s forward brought their shooting boots and then some, while he made a fine tip towards the end to deny Bae Jun-ho. All the problems ultimately lay in front of him.

George Tanner - 5

Just about edges ahead of his defensive colleagues because he made some tackles, a block or two and showed more of a willingness to get stuck in and track his runners. The excellent Bae Jun-ho certainly would have done far more damage had Tanner not been on the field.

Rob Dickie - 4

At the risk of stating the obvious, this was far, far below the high standards he’s set for himself over the season. There were others equally as culpable, of course, but as the central figure of the City defence he has to take significant responsibility. The way he stood off Tyrece Campbell for the second kind of said it all.

Haydon Roberts - 4

He had little help from Mark Sykes in front of him but it’s fair to say he was ripped apart by Million Manhoef who was nothing short of sensational for the hosts. He just never got a lid on the Dutchman who was either lurking behind him or delivering little touches around him to dart into space. A real lesson for the young defender and a reminder he’s far from the finished article.

Ross McCrorie - 4

Tried to get things moving up the field, and had a few moments when he caused some issues for the Stoke defence, including an opportunity to play Conway in which he ignored. But defensively, like those around him, it did not make for good viewing and he was taken off before the hour-mark as the Robins switched to a 4-2-3-1.

Joe Williams - 4

Not dissimilar to McCrorie in that when he had possession high up the pitch things started to happen for City but he undone a lot of that with just some lax work through the middle as Stoke carved the Robins open on numerous occasions with little shape or structure in resistance.

Jason Knight - 5

He deserves credit for going the distance and putting in a ton of work but too much of it was chasing men in red and white as City never really got control of the ball for sustained periods while Luke Cundle caused significant problems going the other way.

Mark Sykes - 4

You have to give him a slight pass because left wing-back is simply not his position but, in the absence of Cam Pring, there he was and he simply wasn’t a factor in the game; on and off the ball. The latter was particularly apparent as Haydon Roberts was given little to no help in trying to stop Million Manhoef.

Anis Mehmeti - 5

One of City’s better players in the sense he got behind the Stoke defence on a few occasions and asked questions but either the final ball was a little lacking or he simply didn’t have options in front of him. Teed up Twine in the second half but the playmaker directed his volley wide.

Scott Twine - 6

Was robbed of a goal by the assistant’s flag, while he was also denied by a fine Daniel Iversen save which could well have altered the destiny of this game. Looked bright and inventive, particularly in the first half as it all went wrong behind him. If there’s one criticism is that he wasn’t enough of a factor in the second period bar a volley from Mehmeti’s cross which was flashed the wrong side of the post.

Tommy Conway - 5

If this is goodbye, well, it wasn’t a particularly pleasing one as Conway looked on in astonishment as the net rippled four times and the crossbar was also struck. He should have left this game with an assist after squaring for Twine to score but the assistant’s flag was dubiously raised and then the onslaught began.

Substitutes

Zak Vyner (for McCrorie, 57) - 6

Brought more composure and organisation to the defence but the game had long been lost by that point.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman (for Williams, 57) - 5

Like Williams before him, struggled to exert any control in the middle of the park as Stoke continued their dominance.

Nahki Wells (for Conway, 57) - 5

City threatened a few breaks in which the Bermudian also had the opportunity to run in behind but the Stoke defence dealt with him pretty comfortably.

Harry Cornick (for Sykes, 57) - 5

Had some joy as the game became increasingly stretched but could do little to impact the result or the overall performance.

Andy King (for Twine, 89) - 10

What a career, what a professional, what a bloke.

Subs not used: Stefan Bajic, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Elijah Morrison, Dire Mebude

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