Preston North End player ratings vs Stoke... Offiah and Iversen positive but 4/10 struggles
Preston were defeated 2-0 by Stoke City.
Preston North End are now five games without a win under Graham Alexander after falling to a X-X defeat at Stoke City.
The manager changed the side’s shape for the game, lining his team up in a 4-2-3-1 with Brad Potts in an advanced position and Callum Lang on the wing.
The change didn’t pay off and Preston struggled to create much from open play in the first half in which Ben Wilmot headed the home side in front.
Stoke came out firing after the break and it wasn’t long before Jack McGlynn doubled their lead.
Only a string of Daniel Iversen saves and Million Manhoef hitting the post kept the score at two.
Here’s how the players rated.
Daniel Iversen - 6.5
Could have potentially done better to get a hand to the second goal but the score would have been much worse without some very impressive saves, especially when Robert Bozenik went clean through.
Odel Offiah - 6.5
Odel Offiah was charged with playing in his third different role under Alexander at right-back but did really well in the role. Defensively, he was alert to trouble and good at getting his body in the way, especially with one crucial intervention when Storey had slipped and Stoke were through.
On the ball, he was positive, always looking to carry it into space or pass up the line. Energetic display and PNE’s strongest outfield performer, though one poor back pass had Iversen scrambling and he could have closed down closer in the second goal build-up.
Jordan Storey - 4
An ill-timed slip nearly proved costly and in the second-half he needed Iversen to save his blushes after allowing a ball to roll past him to set Stoke through. Was on hand to get a toe on the ball when he was left one-on-one with Bozenik and cleared one goal-bount shot but not a good showing.
Andrew Hughes - 5.5
Read dangerous moments well and dealt with a lot of problems, one challenge in the 11th minute as Stoke nearly got in behind was a highlight. However, some clearances were poor and put Preston in trouble when they deflected back to Stoke.
Andrija Vukcevic - 5.5
Not able to get forward as much as left-back instead of wing-back, with only one notable cross in the first half. Some sloppy touches and struggled at times against the lively Ben Johnson.
Jordan Thompson - 5
Eyed some forward passes and got stick in. Hit the side-netting with a free-kick. Midfield porous and easily cut open.
Leo Leroy - 5.5
One mazy run into the box that ended in him being fouled without being rewarded was Preston’s attacking highlight. Had been so composed in possession, but one loose touch led to Stoke’s second goal.
Callum Lang - 5.5
Endeavoured on the left wing, and created some sighters with balls into the box, especially after nut-megging out of the corner. The way Callum Lang uses his body to turn defenders is great to watch, but he was rarely able to capitalise after the turn before getting snuffed out.
Linked well with Offiah but his lack of pace on the right meant Preston couldn’t capitalise on rare moments a counter looked possible.
Brad Potts - 4
Surprisingly positioned in an attacking-midfield position but didn’t offer much creatively, despite working hard off the ball. Booked for a foul early on and perhaps a bit fortunate an accidental elbow on Djibril Soumare didn’t earn him another. Taken off at the break.
Delano Burgzorg - 4.5
After his brightest Preston performance against WBA, Alexander moved Burgzorg to the left wing and it didn’t work. The Dutchman hardly saw the ball and couldn’t be as effective in the press from a wide position.
Moved central after the break but Preston had little of the ball. A bad day but not all on him.
Johnny Kenny - 5.5
Forced Viktor Johansson into action with a hard drive into the box and fashioned some half-openings in the second half but cut an isolated figure.
Substitutes
Thierry Small - 5
One nice ball into the box nearly led to a chance.
Jusef Erabi - 5
Pressed hard.
Andy Moran - 5
Saw little of the ball.
Stanley Mills - N/A
On late.