Potters prevail in pre-season friendly at the Pirelli Stadium
Jacob Brown scores the only goal of the game
Alex Neil gives first minutes to new signings Hoever, Chiquinho and Vidigal

BURTON ALBION 0

STOKE CITY 1
Brown 54

Attendance: 2,295

Stoke City’s pre-season preparations continued as more players stepped up their match minutes in a 1-0 win at Burton Albion.

Jacob Brown scored the only goal of the game for Alex Neil’s side, who controlled the proceedings at the Pirelli Stadium, creating several opportunities in the final third.

Neil handed first pre-season appearances to Ki-Jana Hoever and Chiquinho, who both joined the Potters on loan from Wolves last week, while defender Michael Rose started for the first time too.

New signing Andre Vidigal also enjoyed his first pre-season minutes following his transfer from Maritimo, featuring for the second half in East Staffordshire.

Chiquinho started brightly on his first showing in front of Potters supporters, forcing Albion defender Sam Hughes into a clearance following a cross from the right, with Tyrese Campbell and Jacob Brown lurking.

Hoever was involved soon after as he played a perfectly timed pass in behind Burton’s defence for Brown, who opted to square for Campbell, though the City striker couldn’t connect with the cross.

City’s trialist was next to go close, seeing a low shot from the edge of the area saved by Jamal Blackman after meeting Josh Laurent’s pull back.

Rose then went within inches of opening his Potters account in pre-season, meeting a Chiquinho free kick at the back post and heading just over.

A minute later, City’s trialist was presented with a chance to put the Potters ahead following positive interplay on the left side, which freed Campbell, who squared the ball to the edge, though the trialist’s effort was skewed wide.

Neil’s side’s next opportunity came on the break following a Burton set-piece as Chiquinho turned on the left side and curled a cross which was inches away from being converted by Brown in the centre of the penalty area.

City next tried their luck from distance and it took a strong save from Blackman to deny Hoever, who fired a powerful effort towards the goalkeeper’s top right-hand corner from 25 yards.

Blackman was then on hand to deny Campbell’s low drive as the Potters’ forward latched on to Wilmot’s clearance to create an opening on the edge of the area.

Chiquinho and Ben Pearson were both denied by Blackman before the break as a strong City performance had everything but the opening goal.

Neil made two changes at the break as new signing Andre Vidigal and midfielder Jordan Thompson were introduced in place of Chiquinho and the City trialist.

Thompson was involved in the build-up as the Potters got in front on 54 minutes, finding Josh Tymon on the left, who crossed for Brown to provide a composed finish from the centre of the penalty area.

As the hour mark approached, City almost doubled their advantage when Tymon pulled a free-kick to the edge of the area for Pearson, though the midfielder placed his effort wide.

Vidigal saw an effort from the edge of the area saved by Blackman as Neil’s side went in search of a second, while a driving run from Campbell on the right forced a near post clearance from Hughes as the game entered its final quarter.

Nathan Lowe replaced Campbell for the final 12 minutes and he forced Blackman into a near post save from a powerfully struck effort from the right of the area.

Five minutes from time, Brown had the chance to grab his and the Potters’ second, though he couldn’t divert Vidigal’s cross from the right either side of Blackman in the Brewers’ goal.

Burton Albion: Blackman, Brayford (Moon 45), Hughes, Sweeney, Powell, Harper, Stockton, Bennett (Walker 70), Chauke (Gordon 45), Caprice (Seddon 58), Hamer.
Subs: Crocombe, Kamwa, Lakin, Carayol, Gilligan, Delap.

Stoke City: Bonham; Hoever (Macari 65 (Edwards 86)), Wilmot, Rose (Taylor 65), Tymon; Pearson (Sidibe 65), Laurent, Trialist (Thompson 45); Campbell (Lowe 78), Brown (Griffiths 85), Chiquinho (Vidigal 45).
Subs: Nna Noukeu, Brooks, Stevens, Wright-Phillips, Baker, Sparrow.

City continue pre-season preparations with win at Burton Albion