Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City lose 5-0 to Leicester

Stoke City’s home misery continues with an embarrassing home thumping by champions-in-waiting Leicester.

A double for Patson Daka, two from Jamie Vardy and one for Kasey McAteer was reward for complete domination at the bet365 Stadium and wrapped up a 5-0 away win. Stoke haven’t won here since October and have barely scored in that time either.

Stoke were outplayed and outfought, and Steven Schumacher has a lot to consider as he tries to find the right formula to get enough points to pull Stoke away from the bottom.

 

 

Abdul Fatawu had the first sighter when he took a pass from Harry Winks down the inside right and slipped into space to whip a shot narrowly past the far post. Jack Bonham scooped a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall header out of the top right corner and Daka couldn’t get a touch on a deep cross from Abdul Fatawu.

The breakthrough came soon enough, following a controversial free-kick as Mehdi Leris caught Stephy Mavididi on his follow through from playing a pass. Leicester then took advantage of diabolical defending, with Dewsbury-Hall crossing for Fatawu to head across goal and Daka waiting unmarked to tap in.

It was quickly two as Leicester enjoyed space in front of the Stoke box and McAteer’s shot was touched helpfully past a wrong-footed Bonham by Wilmot.

Stoke changed their shape at half-time but committing more men forward only left more gaps behind them and Leicester would show no mercy.

Daka stroked home the third from a penalty after Wout Faes broke forward from centre-back and was clumsily pushed to the ground by Jordan Thompson. It was four when sub Jamie Vardy finished off a swift counter-attack, with Harry Winks finding James Justin to cross.

Mads Hermansen and James Justin combined underneath their own bar to keep out efforts from Bae Junho and Ben Wilmot.

And it was Leicester who got the next in the eighth minute of injury time when Michael Rose fouled Dewsbury-Hall and Vardy whacked home the resultant penalty.

Here are the ratings from the bet365 Stadium…

Bonham: At full stretch to scoop out a Dewsbury-Hall header, wrong-footed for McAteer’s long-ranger. A couple more decent stops but a hard day at the office. 5

Hoever: Willing at right-back. Struggled to stop crosses often enough. Limped off with 20 minutes to go. 5

Thompson: A trying afternoon against Fatawu at left-back. Picked a couple of decent passes when he swept inside, finding Campbell and decent cross found Leris just before half-time. Clumsy penalty foul. 5

Rose: Couldn’t take command as Leicester’s loopy crosses caused too much trouble. Some daft passing choices especially in second half. 4

Wilmot: Tried to charge forward to make interceptions but couldn’t always make it count if he got it. Will think he should have stopped McAteer shot. 4

Pearson: Gave away far too much ground in front of the Stoke defence after returning to midfield in attempt to plug gaps. Lucky to last 45 minutes. 3

Burger: Put in a lot of work in central midfield, tracking up and down, and will think McAteer should have seen red for push in his chest after strong tackle. 6

Cundle: Pushed higher to try to lead pressing and he got in a couple of neat passes, including through ball to put Leris in one-on-one and cross for Gooch. 5

Leris: Unlucky to be victim of strange yellow card. Rush of blood to head when he met Thompson cross and let Hermansen win one-on-one too comfortably. 5

Gooch: From right-back to left wing, helping Thompson out at the same time, and then to right wing for the second half. 5

Campbell: Poked first half shot at Hermansen. Needed to make life less comfortable for Leicester’s centre-backs to really stake his claim for striker slot. Cheers greeted substitution. 4

Substitutes

Ennis (for Pearson, 46): Made it two up top for second half on debut. Flashed late header wide. 5

Junho (for Leris, 46): Straight into book for loose tackle. Gave Stoke more of a threat on the ball. 5

Lowe (for Campbell, 57): Busy but asked to lead what was becoming a disjointed team. 5

Vidigal (for Gooch, 57): Stoke struggling for shape and discipline through closing stages. Claimed injury after giving ball away in injury time. 4