Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City lose 2-1 to Sheffield United and loan forward is barracked
21:57, 29 Dec 2025
Ben Pearson of Stoke City is sent off after tackling Patrick Bamford of Sheffield United
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Ben Pearson of Stoke City is sent off after tackling Patrick Bamford of Sheffield United
Stoke City paid the price for abysmal defending inside six minutes at the start of the second half as Sheffield United completed a quickfire double over the Potters.
Strikes from Jairo Riedewald and Tom Cannon saw fans' frustrations grow louder than at any point this season so far, culminating with Mark Robins making a near-unprecedented quadruple sub. Loan forward Divin Mubama in particular copped it from supporters who were furious at an insipid spell of play.
The changes and their much-needed energy brought Stoke back to life and Ben Wilmot scored his first goal of the season. Stoke had half chances for an equaliser and sniffed a way back as the mood changed around the stadium.
Their chances were made harder when Ben Pearson was sent off on the half-way line for what referee John Brooks deemed a professional foul on Patrick Bamford to stop a Sheff Utd counter attack.
A 2-1 defeat made for a closer game than when Stoke lost 4-0 at Bramall Lane early in December but Stoke continue to lose ground on those around them in the Championship and have to find a way to turn their results around before the chances of this season slip over the horizon.
Robins had made three changes to his starting XI, including handing first league starts of the season to Ben Gibson and Sam Gallagher. Gibson stood in as emergency left-back in the absence of injured duo Eric Bocat (knee) and Aaron Cresswell (knee). Gallagher got the nod up front next to Mubama.
Having named the youngest side for a league game this season at Bramall Lane, this was right up there with the oldest – and, significantly, one that looked more prepared to try to win headers at set-pieces, which had been their downfall in Sheffield.
It was a Robins old boy who was playing a central role in the opening stages as former Coventry playmaker Callum O’Hare shifted with purpose in attacking midfield.
He teed up Harrison Burrows to whip a ball through the six-yard box that Gibson did well to get in front of Djibril Soumare to clear at the back post. He then wriggled through Gibson and Wilmot before dinking a shot over Johansson and onto the roof of the net. And he released Tyrese Campbell into the box for Ash Phillips to make an important tackle as the hosts lived dangerously. Burrows also blasted a shot across goal and out when he had time and space to do better.
It was O’Hare who had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 37th minute. Femi Seriki ran down the right and his ball over was dummied by Campbell for unmarked O’Hare by the penalty spot – but he scuffed a terrible shot high into the Boothen End.
Stoke didn’t make many inroads into the final third but they had a big opportunity to make the breakthrough when Tatsuki Seko’s dinked narrow cross was missed by Gallagher and Japhet Tanganga and fell to Sorba Thomas in space at the back post. Thomas had time to control and pick his spot but instead attempted an ambitious diving header that went weakly to Michael Cooper.
Phillips gave Cooper another save before the break when he tried a back header from a Gallagher hook back into the box following a Lawal throw.
It only took a couple of minutes of the second-half for the visitors to get their first. An unnecessary foul by Seko on O’Hare gifted a free-kick wide on the left. Gibson’s header out was miskicked by Campbell nicely for Riedewald to get the wrong side of Gallagher and poke past Johansson from close range.
Stoke’s dreadful start to the second half got even worse when unmarked Cannon made it two from another set piece. This time left alone at the back post to take a first-time shot from a cross that was lazily chipped over the box.
Robins responded with four substitutions although there were some player who were very fortunate to be allowed to stay on. There was a frustrated reception for Mubama, who now hasn’t scored since November 1 and fans had clearly decided he hasn’t had the work rate to cover that up.
The subs instantly had an impact and Bae Junho and Robert Bozenik just being prepared to run made a Sheffield United defence panic. Bozenik won a corner and then Phillips ran again to earn a throw from which Wilmot got his first of the season, steering it past Cooper in a scramble. Bozenik might have done better when another scramble fell for him and when he headed a good Thomas cross wide.
Bamford was denied by Johansson on the counter-attack before Pearson was dismissed when he didn’t back himself in a foot race with Bamford on the half-way line and tripped him up, expecting a yellow and getting a red – and with him went any hopes of a Christmas miracle.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium.
Johansson: Played as a sweeper at times in first half and was let down by abysmal defending at set pieces in second. Smart save vs Bamford. 7
Lawal: Can be more of a threat going forwards as he fills in at right-back, with rare glimpses like a 25-yard lollops. No more dives, please. 6
Gibson: First league start of the season deputising at left-back and didn’t let the team down. 6
Phillips: A couple of important tackles in his own penalty area and went reasonably close with a back header in first half. 6
Wilmot: First goal of the season. Will be kicking himself that Stoke have let in from set-pieces again. 6.5
Seko: Can pick a pass in the opposition half but leaves so much space running to the wrong fire in his own, with O’Hare licking his lips. 4
Nzonzi: Wasn’t able to impose himself like he would have wanted in the middle. 5
Manhoef: Stoke’s most likely attacking option for the first hour but he sometimes found dead ends. 6
Thomas: Should have at least made keeper work harder with first half chance. Came alive after chances in second half. 6.5
Gallagher: Kept the ball alive at times but not looking fit enough at the moment after such a long lay off. Has to be better at defending set pieces. 5
Mubama: Poor to the point he was shifted out from the middle to the wing. Too weak at times and not enough energy to paper over lack of threat. 3
Substitutes
Pearson (for Nzonzi, 58): A decent little cameo until he didn’t back himself in foot race with Bamford. 5
Bozenik (for Gallagher, 58): Showed fellow forwards the impact that working hard can have and made Stoke chances. 7
Junho (for Manhoef, 58): Was ready to run and try to make things happen. 6.5
Rigo (for Seko, 75): Put himself about although deliveries were a little rusty at times. 6
Not used: Bonham, Donley, Talovierov, Bickerton.
Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire) 3
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