Stoke City player ratings vs Charlton as mistake haunts goal-shy Potters

Reaction from The Valley as Stoke City leave London without a point again

Stoke City were their own worst enemy as they conspired to a desperately disappointing late loss at Charlton.

Harry Clarke hit the bar at one end and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi did the same at the other in a competitive first-half but neither side looked particularly confident in front of goal.

But just when it seemed the stadium was resigned to a 0-0 draw, Ashley Phillips got himself into a horrible position dealing with what looked like a routine ball over the top and Tyreece Campbell took advantage.

Stoke have now gone three games without scoring and, when a win would have lifted them to within a point of the top six, they are now stuck in the bottom half. Players dropped to their knees at full-time and there was deflation in the away end.

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It was Charlton who made the early play and Conor Coady hooked a volley wide before Stoke old boy Clarke smacked a header into the underside of the crossbar when he left defenders for dead attacking a corner at the back post.

Stoke might have paid the price at the next corner too. This time it was Lloyd Jones who was free in almost exactly the same spot as Clarke but he prodded an easy chance wide from close range. Kayne Ramsay had a free header saved by Tommy Simkin too from an excellent Clarke cross.

But Jesurun Rak-Sakyi almost gave the Potters the lead after a super quick piece of link play down the right with Bosun Lawal and Cisse. Rak-Sakyi – a Charlton player of the year during his season on loan at The Valley – suddenly burst into the box to get one-on-one with Thomas Kaminski, dinking it over the keeper but onto the bar and over.

You could see from his reaction and the relief from the fans behind the goal that he probably should have scored.

He had another chance when Stoke won the ball on the left on the half-way line and it was spread quickly to the right for the winger to race into the area. He took a couple of touches to get into a good position as Rigo sprinted up to join him – but then he shot over.

Stoke had a shout for a penalty on the half-hour mark as Sorba Thomas’s cross was brought down by Luke Chambers’ arm but referee Anthony Backhouse had a pretty good view and didn’t think it met the threshold.

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Lawal was looking like he was enjoying himself getting down the wing from right-back – so it was just Stoke’s luck this winter that he then pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury. Maksym Talovierov was sent on in the 41st minute.

Stoke had one last chance before the break when Aaron Cresswell brought the ball out of defence and had time to urge his teammates to move forwards before Rak-Sakyi darted into the inside left position and showed nice feet before trying to set up Rigo, where it was nicked away.

Rak-Sakyi might have got that elusive goal in the second half once he’s up in top gear in a few weeks. Thomas got to the by-line on the left and walloped a low cross through the six-yard box – but Rak-Sakyi was just a little too flat-footed to get in for a tap in. Million Manhoef replaced him with just over half an hour left.

There was an almighty scramble from a Cresswell corner but Steven Nzonzi and Ben Wilmot couldn’t force it home as it bounced. Thomas licked another low cross at pace if only a teammate was on the same page in front of an impressive 1,112 travelling Stokies behind that goal.

Stoke were guilty of playing themselves into trouble as Wilmot put Phillips under pressure, who in turn put Talovierov under pressure, with silly passes. They still hadn’t cleared their lines properly by the time Campbell cut inside and fired a decent effort towards the bottom right corner, pushed out by Simkin.

It was Campbell who then made the breakthrough with nine minutes left on the clock. There didn’t seem any danger when a ball was looped over the top but Phillips bent under it and Campbell stole in to go one-on-one with Simkin, rounded the keeper and stroked home. Game over.

Here are the player ratings from The Valley

Simkin: Quick off his line and brave when needed. Smart low save to stop Campbell. 7

Lawal: Looked like he was starting to enjoy himself attacking down the line, with more gusto than grace, when his hamstring seemed to go. 6.5

Cresswell: Left-back and Thomas were getting frustrated with each other at times but some link up play was good. 6

Phillips: Disaster as he contorted himself and let in Campbell to score the all-important first goal. Looked devastated. 5

Wilmot: Has to be careful not to take a touch too many at centre-half. Had to chase a couple of times. 5.5

Nzonzi: Important block on Carey shot in opening stages. An important aerial presence. 6

Seko: A lot of running and he got in a couple of tackles that kept Charlton at bay for the most part. Was the one to console Phillips at the end. 6

Rigo: Doesn’t always look at home as a number 10 and was a little reactive in getting into positions to try to support Cisse. 5.5

Rak-Sakyi: Promising first half as he made chances for himself with quick play. Should probably have scored when he hit the bar. 7

Thomas: A couple of superb low crosses through the six-yard box that were begging to be tapped in. Didn’t quite have his shooting boots on. 6

Cisse: Pulled into a battle with Jones and looks game, even if he’d benefit from a lot of gym work. Nice link up with Rak-Sakyi. 6

Substitutes

Talovierov (for Lawal, 41): Thrown on at right-back and enjoys getting into tangles with anyone he can wrestle with. 6

Manhoef (for Rak-Sakyi, 57): A willing runner but couldn’t really get the ball to do damage in the final third. 6

Junho (for Rigo, 75): A scurry down the left to win a corner but Stoke need him to be a goal threat or pick out a teammate. 6

Bocat (for Cresswell, 75): Relieved tiring Cresswell and joined in play down the flank. 6

Smit (for Thomas, 75): Couldn’t really force himself into the play. 6

Not used: Fielding, Otegbayo, Pearson, Curley.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria) 5

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