City leave with 2-0 victory...
Tranmere Rovers 0
Stoke City 2 (Smith 54, Batth 85)
STOKE CITY continued their impressive pre-season form on Saturday afternoon with a comfortable victory over League One side Tranmere Rovers.
Tommy Smith and Danny Batth both struck to earn a 2-0 win, however in truth the scoreline could and should have been far greater for Nathan Jones’ side.
The visitors created a number of chances at Prenton Park but Rovers keeper Scott Davies pulled off a number of smart saves to deny a plethora of City stars.
Saturday’s win meanwhile means that the Potters still remain unbeaten in pre-season, winning three of their four matches and scoring in each encounter.
The Potters made a fluid start to proceedings in Tranmere and could have taken the lead inside the opening 180 seconds when a corner was reworked back to Nick Powell whose low delivery was flicked into the side netting by Sam Clucas.
Just less than a minute later, City went close one more but Joe Allen was unable to apply enough power to a close-range back-heal following Smith’s right-wing cross.
The Potters were in total control of proceedings on the Wirral as the half wore on, demonstrating a greater understand of the diamond formation which is being deployed by Jones.
And it was James McClean, playing in the all-important left back position, who was next to try his luck as the Republic of Ireland international saw his drive from range fly wide of the upright.
Nick Powell then fired wide from range as the clock ticked past the half hour mark, while striker Benik Afobe did well to work an opening on the edge of the area, before forcing the ‘keeper into a routine save.
It wasn’t until the 35thminute that Rovers caused the away defence genuine concern and it was former West Bromwich Albion frontman Ishmael Miller who almost broke the deadlock when he turned and hit a ferocious drive just wide.
The Potters soon regained control as McClean saw an effort from 18 yards well-saved by Davies, before the shot-stopper was called into much more telling action as he pushed away Afobe’s curling effort after the striker had been tied up by strike partner Sam Vokes.
City began the second period in much the same vein as the first and almost went in front when a net through-ball from Sam Clucas released Allen whose low cross was deflected narrowly off-target by a home defender.
Another chance for the Potters arrived less than 60 seconds, this time for Benik Afobe who couldn’t quite divert Nick Powell’s wicked delivery on target.
The visitors’ pressure eventually reaped its rewards when Sam Vokes’ right-wing cross was only half cleared to Smith who powered an angled drive into the bottom corner.
As predicted, the hour mark brought with it a flurry of changes from both sides, with the Potters in particular replacing everyone bar Jack Butland, and altering to a 5-3-2 formation.
It was too long before near new 11 gelled as Daniel Jarvis strode forward from midfield and unleashed a fierce shot which the keeper did well to push away to safety.
Fellow attackers Thibaud Verlinden and Lee Gregory then both saw goalbound efforts blocked as the Potters remained in the ascendancy.
A fine free-flowing move down the left almost brought a second goal for the Potters when Stephen Ward played the ball into the path of Lee Gregory who in turn set up Daniel Jarvis and the youngster hit a shot just wide when well-placed inside the box.
Jarvis almost turned provider for Verlinden minutes later when he laid the ball off the Belgium youth international who forced the keeper into a smart stop.
Lee Gregory was next to force Davies into great save when he outfoxed the opposition defence from a throw-in, before turning and shooting inside the box.
Davies would finally be beaten for a second time late on when Tom Edwards’ corner was expertly headed home from close range by Danny Batth.
Starting XI: Butland, Smith, Shawcross, Lindsay, McClean, Cousins, Clucas, Allen, Powell, Afobe, Vokes.
60 minutes+ XI: Butland, Edwards, Collins, Batth, Martins Indi, Ward, Woods, Sorensen, Verlinden, Jarvis, Gregory.
Image courtesy of Leanne Bagnall/The Sentinel