Stoke City vs Everton player ratings as new signings stake claim for Alex Neil’s league XI
Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City end pre-season with a 1-0 defeat against Everton
Stoke City fell to a scrambled Everton injury-time winner as Alex Neil’s new-look squad brought pre-season to a close.
In a game of few genuine chances, the biggest gasps in the first half came when Enda Stevens’s skidding low cross was cut out at the back post by Ashley Young and when Chiquinho spotted Jordan Pickford off his line and tried his luck from half-way.
Jacob Brown sniffed out a couple of half chances and, in the second, might have done better when he was picked out by a Ki-Jana Hoever cross – but he did force a save when he collected himself after a miskick.
The visitors’ previous best chances had come on the break and twice Trentham’s Lewis Dobbin had come close in the final minutes.
Neil had named six summer signings in his starting XI, with new forwards Ryan Mmaee and Wesley on the bench less than 24 hours after being unveiled. Jordan Thompson took missing Ben Pearson’s place in defensive midfield.
The closing stages saw wholesale changes – including first outings for Mmaee and Wesley, as well as another cameo for 16-year-old Sol Sidibe. Stoke now have a week to find finishing touches before welcoming Rotherham on the first day of the Championship season.
Travers: A couple of vital touches in quiet match, including low dive forward to block cross. Alert when late chances fell to Dobbin. An annoying late goal to concede. 7
Hoever: Keen to get forward at every opportunity and scramble for possession if needed in the final third. Will hope improve link up with Chiquinho. 7
Stevens: A steady presence at left-back and occasional option on the overlap with Campbell. Neat low pass set up half-chance for Brown early on. 6
Wilmot: Good presence as the left-sided centre-back, eager to block and attack the ball in his first playing return to the bet365 since his back injury. 7
Rose: Quick and comfortable on the ball as billed. Caught out up the pitch at one point in first half. 6
Thompson: In the Pearson spot in defensive midfield. Prioritised keeping possession at times. Took one for the team with a yellow card to stop Everton counter. 6
Laurent: Eager to burst through the lines and a hard man to beat. Important at both ends of the pitch. 6
Johnson: Left of the midfield three, dangerous low cross cut out by Young and free-kick shot charged down. Some neat linking play. 6
Campbell: Ready to hit and run to get past Nathan Patterson but needed better end product. 6
Chiquinho: A little bit static at times but only in his first week at Stoke. Wasn’t too far away with an ambitious long ranger after spotting Jordan Pickford off his line. 6
Brown: Lively at centre-forward, darting around to press and offering a run behind. Forced a decent save from Pickford after initial swipe at Hoever cross. 6
Subs
Tymon (for Stevens, 62): Showed his pace getting forward after introduction at left-back. 6
Vidigal (for Chiquinho, 62): A dash of skill as he switched from right to left wings, although final ball didn’t match. 6
Wesley (for Thompson, 62): Playing catch up in terms of match fitness as he adds brawn to the Stoke front line. 6
Mmaee (for Brown, 62): Some clever footwork and reading of the game, including winning a useful free-kick just outside the box. 6
Onomah (Campbell, 62): Trialist bought a bit of space for himself in the middle as he stakes his claim for a contract. 6
Sidibe (for Johnson, 77): Showed skill and strength to cap a breakthrough pre-season at 16. A top prospect on the fast track to the first team. 7
Attendance: 10,481
