Stoke player ratings vs Wrexham as dismal Potters pick up nothing but injuries

George Thomason scored directly from a corner past Gavin Bazunu just after the half-hour mark to spark a tight game to life that had shown little goalmouth drama. Then Josh Windass pounced on a bad touch from Aaron Cresswell dealing with a long ball forward to make it two.

It was always going to be an afternoon when Stoke needed a lot to go right for them, having arrived in North Wales with just one recognised senior centre-back. It is safe to say that it didn’t.

An injury to stand-in Cresswell deepened that crisis and made for an experimental back line in the second-half – and then Bosun Lawal got injured in the closing stages too. Lamine Cisse hit the bar late on but Danny Ward didn’t have a save to make.

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It all meant that Stoke have now lost six away games in a row since mid-February and the away end were pretty miserable in the spring sunshine, knowing there is only one more chance – at Bristol City on the final day – to end such a dismal run.

Mark Robins had made three changes to his starting XI, including the enforced loss of Ashley Phillips (suspended) and Ben Gibson (groin). Jesurun Rak-Sakyi dropped to the bench. In came Cresswell as captain, Cisse and Bae Junho although there was plenty of shuffling besides that. Lawal moved to centre-half, Sorba Thomas took his place as makeshift right-back and Million Manhoef moved back out to the right wing.

There was no Kieffer Moore among Wrexham’s starters but Sam Smith, leading the line instead, is no shrinking violet. He got behind Cresswell and Lawal took a gamble by barging him off the ball as he ran into the box. No penalty, said referee Adam Herczeg.

It was a sign of Wrexham’s plan and the offside flag was up regularly through the first half as they tried to catch out Cresswell and Lawal. At the other end, Cisse hit a couple of ambitious efforts high and wide while Manhoef found his path blocked when he tried to sneak inside.

Neither side particularly looked like they had goals in them before Wrexham suddenly scored twice in a minute. It started with a free-kick clumsily conceded by Cisse tracking back and Ollie Rathbone’s shot in a subsequent scramble being tapped around the post by Ben Pearson. Thomason inexplicably scored direct from the corner. The ball swung through Bazunu’s reach and curled into the middle of the goal.

It was immediately 2-0 when Cresswell made a mess of trying to shepherd a long ball back to the keeper. There was no danger but Windass gave chase and, when Cresswell miscontrolled, he was ready to pounce and slot home a one-on-one. The home stands were stunned into laughter while the away end sunk into disbelief.

Cresswell was clearly limping on a bad knee and he was withdrawn at half-time to be replaced by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who played at left-back while Eric Bocat moved into the middle in one of the strangest backlines in memory: two wingers, a full-back who has been criticised for his defensive ability and a utility player.

Robert Bozenik made his introduction five minutes into the second half, replacing Sam Gallagher, in his first appearance since a horrific shoulder injury on New Year’s Day.

Windass tried to catch out Bazunu off his line but wafted a shot over while Sam Smith couldn’t direct a header on target when well placed attacking a cross from the left.

Stoke were struggling to threaten Danny Ward at the other end. Cisse got into the box with good support at one point but miskicked his cross into touch. Lawal needed treatment before he was replaced by 18-year-old debutant Pijus Otegbayo.

Pearson needed physio attention too after taking a ball flat in the face shortly before Stoke managed to have a shot. Cisse popped up in the area to fashion an effort past Ward but onto the bar. Too little too late and Stoke’s dreadful form on the road continues.

Here are the player ratings from the Racecourse Ground.

Thomas: Back at right-back. Tried to link up with Manhoef in the first-half but didn’t venture forward as much as might be expected. 5

Bocat: Ended up at centre-half and, with a bit of luck, managed to hold Wrexham at bay in the second half. 5

Lawal: Got away with an early barge on Smith when Wrexham wanted penalty. Had to sweep at times as hosts tried to break back line. 5

Cresswell: Asked to fill in at centre-half and clearly playing through injury. Will be haunted by role in second goal. 3.5

Pearson: Popped up covering at left-back and was the most advanced played at one stage trying to win the ball back – but hadn’t done enough to help Stoke win midfield battle. 5

Baker: Not involved enough in one of those games that seems to pass him by. 4

Manhoef: Stoke’s most likely player to produce a moment of magic but if he beat one man he couldn’t beat enough to get into a scoring position. 5

Cisse: Back on the left wing. A couple of ambitious cross-shots over the bar and hit the bar in the closing stages. 5

Gallagher: A pretty thankless task up front and withdrawn just five minutes into the second half. 5

Rak-Sakyi (for Cresswell, 46): Must be a first career outing at left-back and he filled a space. 5

Bozenik (for Gallagher, 51): A welcome return from injury and put himself about, certainly in the early stages after entrance. 5

Seko (for Baker, 68): Brushed off the ball too easily. 5

Otegbayo (for Lawal, 86): Debut for youth graduate centre-back in closing stages. N/A

Not used: Simkin, Mubama, Smit, Agina, Kelly.

Referee: Adam Herczeg (Durham) 5

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