Reaction from Marbella as Stoke City lose 3-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in a friendly to wrap up training camp
20:03, 16 Jul 2025Updated 20:06, 16 Jul 2025
Peter Smith
A Stoke City reporter since 2013, Peter started his career in journalism at the Post & Times series in 2008 before moving to The Sentinel in 2011. He travels home and away with the Potters, including overseas in pre-season.
Stoke City throw bodies in the way as they take on Brighton and Hove Albion in a pre-season friendly.
Stoke City throw bodies in the way as they take on Brighton and Hove Albion in a pre-season friendly.
Mark Robins was able to give his travelling Stoke City party a good work out in the Marbella heat as they took on Brighton and Hove Albion to bring an end to their Spanish training camp.
Stoke went down 2-1 to the Premier League side in a match when both teams made a lot of changes. Five Stoke players got 60 minutes under their belt as Robins used 22 in all as he gets his squad ready for the new Championship season.
Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring when his shot was deflected past Viktor Johansson before Million Manhoef hit the bar and Lewis Baker had a shot blocked by Carlos Baleba’s arm in the follow-up. Baker stepped up to slam home the subsequent penalty.
There were few real chances in the second half but Brighton took theirs when Caylan Vickers’ deep cross was headed in by Diego Coppola.
Jack Bonham had to make a good close-range stop to deny Georginio Rutter too while Josh Maskall broke to have a decent effort saved and Nathan Lowe should have equalised for the Potters when he was presented with a decent chance by Sol Sidibe.
Brighton wrapped up the win when Georginio Rutter cut in from the left to collect a pass from Malick Yalcouye and his touch across goal bounced off Bonham and into the net.
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Stoke return home now and their next date penned in the diary is their first public friendly, against Crewe Alexandra next Wednesday, although Robins has hinted that he could fit in another behind-closed-doors game before then.
Here are how the players got on in Marbella.
Johansson: Decent early save to stop Ayari and rushed out to stop Mitoma getting into the box.
Tchamadeu: Some front-foot defending and gave a platform for Manhoef to attack down the right.
Bocat: Had to be watchful with some back post defending and looked to support Thomas down the wing.
Lawal: Slotted in at centre-half and limited chances but unwittingly turned Mitoma shot into his own net.
Wilmot: Looked to step out of defence and play the ball forward when he got the chance.
Seko: A little bit snappy at times at the base of central midfield.
Burger: Played the linking role and tried to support teammates and get around the ball.
Baker: Pushed up to play close to Mubama. Well-struck equaliser after winning penalty himself with shot that was blocked by arm.
Manhoef: Promising first half when he consistently had the beating of Hinshelwood. Hit crossbar and might have made Brighton pay more.
Thomas: First run out in a Stoke shirt and a few glimpses of eagerness to cross from left wing.
Mubama: Held up ball at times and a cross-field one-two with Thomas almost resulted in goal at back post.
Substitutes
Agina (for Tchamadeu, 46): First senior run-out for 17-year-old right-back who has just signed first pro deal.
Dixon (for Lawal, 46): Teenager ended up as the senior man in a very young back four.
Giani (for Bocat, 46): Dug in for the test against Buonanotte and was on set piece duties too.
Fawunmi (for Thomas, 46): Looked to take on defenders and try to make something happen.
Maskall (for Manhoef, 46): Fed onto through ball from Wilmot to cut inside and test the keeper.
Lowe (for Mubama, 46): Got through a lot of running as he led the line in second half. Should have buried back post chance.
Bonham (for Johansson, 60): Smart close range stop against Rutter almost as soon as he came on.
Griffin (for Wilmot, 60): Highly-rated young centre-back got the final half-hour trying to keep a handle on Rutter.
Pearson (for Seko, 60): The experience in a youth XI to close out the match, dropping back to support Dixon and Griffin.
Sidibe (for Burger, 60): Put good chance on a plate for Lowe with well-picked out pass.
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Tezgel (for Baker, 60): Tried to get as close as he could to support Lowe in the final stages.
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