Stoke City player ratings vs Hull as Narcis Pelach sees second-half collapse
Narcis Pelach saw Stoke City turn in an all-too familiar Jekyll and Hyde performance as a 1-0 half-time lead became a 3-1 full-time loss to Hull City.
Everything seemed to be going right for Pelach in the first 45 minutes as Stoke went ahead thanks to a firm Ben Wilmot header and might have had two more, with good chances for Bae Junho and Million Manhoef.
But Hull, previously winless in the Championship under new manager Tim Walter, pushed the Potters back in the second half – even if they still needed more than a helping hand from the hosts to find their way back into the match.
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Viktor Johansson saved Kasey Palmer’s penalty but Palmer headed in the rebound, Regan Slater put the visitors in front when Stoke had tried to play out from the back and Palmer put salt tin the wounds when his pass into the six-yard box was turned in by the keeper.
How a night can change. Stoke had started quickly and in the opening minute Koumas and Manhoef combined to nick the ball off Cody Drameh, with Manhoef slipping a pass across for Junho on the inside left. Junho couldn’t quite control at the first attempt and by the time he was ready to pull the trigger, he’d been forced a little wider and shot into the side netting.
For all the singing and oléing around the stadium in honour of the new boss’s mates Bojan and Marc Muniesa, Stoke looked dangerous at that old English staple of corners too. Teammates were queuing up to furious attack Junho’s first floated delivery, with Ben Gibson clattering into Oscar Zambrano with flailing elbows in a full-bloodied welcome to the Championship. Gary Rowett, on Sky duty, would claim Gibson should have been shown a red card.
A lovely spin from Junho bought space for him to pick out Manhoef, relishing his role in the middle and cutting onto his left foot to draw a low save from Ivor Pandur and another corner. Stoke attacked this one just as viciously and it was Wilmot who wheeled towards the front post to power a header home. His first goal in exactly 12 months, since a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield.
It should have been a two-goal lead to take into the break. Koumas initially miscontrolled in his own box but recovered to pick out Manhoef on the half-way line and with one neat turn, Manhoef was away into the vast space of the opposition half, with Cannon for company and just Lewie Coyle within catching distance. Cannon dragged the defender over and Manhoef pulled him back again and went alone before shooting wide and not believing that he had shot wide.
Stoke were forced deeper with a lead to defend in the second half but Hull didn’t look like scoring unless they were given a gift – which they were. Stoke thought Chris Bedia was offside when a cross came in from the Hull left, with Bocat getting into a bit of a mess. Bocat then miscontrolled and sliced untidily as Belloumi crossed his path. Penalty. Johansson, who had saved three penalties in a shoot-out against Fleetwood on Tuesday, saved this one too from Palmer but the rebound fell kindly to lucky Palmer to head in.
Stoke couldn’t find a change of gear and went behind when Wilmot’s reckless pass out from the back was intercepted by Liam Millar, who slipped a pass to Regan Slater to crack past Johansson into the top right corner.
And two soon became three as Palmer beat Burger all ends up running in from the left and his pass across the six-yard box took a fortunate deflection from Johansson, who then couldn’t stop the ball squirming over the line. Boos and emptying stands for the closing stages. Not a dream start for Pelach but a sign of what he’s up against.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium
Johansson: Unfortunate with the penalty, a good save bouncing to the flukiest player on the pitch. Brave when needed off his line but took whack. Poor third goal. 7
Tchamadeu: Raw but committed and with what looked like a more defined role at right-back. Trickier second half against Millar. 6
Bocat: Got himself into a bit of a mess for the penalty, tangling with Bedia before slicing at Belloumi and that set up Hull’s turnaround. 5
Wilmot: Powered in header for first goal in exactly 12 months. Gifted Hull their second with bad pass straight to Millar. 5.5
Gibson: Fortunate to escape censure for clattering into Zambrano. Limited Hull shooting chances and saw plenty of ball. 6
Thompson: Back in for experience in midfield but couldn’t pull Stoke higher up the pitch as they desperately needed in second half. 5.5
Burger: Deeper role next to Thompson and will want to influence the tempo more as weeks go on. Far too weak for Hull’s third. 5
Koumas: Covered a lot of ground up and down the right and dangerous when he got into the final third, always sizing up Drameh. 6.5
Junho: Should have scored in opening minute but some nice moments, linking up with Manhoef and finding space on the turn. 6
Manhoef: Relished central role, playing off the shoulder of Cannon and causing chaos with his pace and skill. Forced corner for opener and should have made it 2-0 on breakaway. 7
Cannon: First home start and still working on his link up play with Manhoef and Junho. Chances few and far between. 5.5
Substitutes
Tezgel (for Koumas, 60): Used from the right and was willing to try his range but Stoke were being forced too much onto the defensive by that stage. 6
Seko (for Thompson, 81): First sighting for deadline day signing, who took place in attacking midfield for closing stages. Happy to take on a shot. 6
Rose (for Tchamadeu, 81): First league appearance of the season as Pelach tried to seize back control. 6
Ennis (for Cannon, 90): Last roll of the dice going into nine minutes of injury time. 5.5
Stevens (for Bocat, 90): First league appearance of the season as he builds up fitness. Some promising runs down the left. 6.5
Not used: Bonham, Sidibe, Dixon, Chibueze.