Key takeaways from the bet365 Stadium as Derby County voices frustration over Stoke City’s winner, yet there’s an undeniable reality.
Stoke City clinched a late 2-1 victory over Derby County, and here are the key talking points from the bet365 Stadium.
Controversy Over Gibson’s Winner
Derby boss Paul Warne expressed frustration over the legitimacy of Ben Gibson’s winning goal. He claimed that Junior Tchamadeu had fouled Nat Phillips during Bae Junho’s corner kick. However, Warne also acknowledged that Phillips should not have been on the field after a late tackle on Junho earlier in the half, which went unpunished by referee Josh Smith.
“Yes, definitely,” Warne said. “We got lucky there, the ref played on. I don’t know all the rules, so I don’t want to sound like a whinger, but even if he played on, it’s still a booking. I was relieved we didn’t have a player sent off. At the time, I was thinking, ‘play on, quick!’”
He added, “But he’s still on the pitch, and it’s still a foul. You can’t level things up. I thought it was a booking, 100 percent a second booking. We’re lucky he wasn’t sent off, but that doesn’t change the fact that I think the winning goal is a bit dubious.”
Stoke manager Narcis Pelach acknowledged his team’s aggressive tactics at the corner but also pointed out the earlier incident involving Phillips. He noted that he learned the importance of aggression in set pieces from Warne’s teams.
“We are aggressive in the way we attack the box,” Pelach explained. “I respect Warne a lot; he’s a very good coach at set plays. I learned a lot from him. If we’re going to discuss this, then Nat Phillips should be out for a second yellow card. If he’s off, we’re 1-0 up against 10 men, and that corner wouldn’t even matter.”
The Impact of Set Pieces
As the league is tightly contested, scoring from set pieces can be crucial. Pelach has a solid history of teams performing well in this area, with his last teams ranking high in set piece goals.
“We work very hard at set plays. With Huddersfield in 21/22, we were the best in the league for set pieces,” Pelach stated. “I’m pleased we’ve scored from corners. We attack it aggressively, putting the ball in the six-yard box and finding a way to make contact.”
Cannon’s Smart Play
Tom Cannon’s impressive sixth goal of the season came from a well-executed penalty, showcasing his smart play as a center-forward. Pelach praised the team’s preparation for such situations, highlighting Cannon’s growth.
“We work a lot on these actions, and it was perfect until the penalty,” Pelach noted. “I’m really pleased not just for his goal; he can press, defend, and he’s becoming more competitive. He has to keep going because he has a bright future.”
With two goals in two games, Cannon is proving to be a valuable asset for Stoke.
Leave a Reply