Pelach Pinpoints the Missing Link as Stoke’s Dominance Fails to Break Preston
Narcis Pelach admitted that possession alone wasn’t enough as Stoke City failed to find a breakthrough against Preston North End, despite dominating 57% of the ball. The team’s best chance came early, with Wouter Burger hitting the post from a corner, but Stoke struggled to create meaningful opportunities in open play. Pelach highlighted the lack of pace, quick passing, and off-the-ball movement, which left the team unable to exploit their dominance. Fatigue also seemed to play a role, as players appeared sluggish and reactive in the final stages, unable to regain the energy needed to tip the balance in their favor.