Mark Robins believes a tactical shift has unlocked Eric Bocat’s attacking potential at Stoke City. The manager’s switch to a wing-back system is yielding results, with the Potters taking ten points from a possible twelve since its introduction.
Bocat scored his second goal of the campaign in last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Watford, a result that lifted Stoke to 10th in the Championship with ten points from seven games.
System suits Bocat
Robins told The Sentinel that the positional change has given Bocat a new lease of life. "Eric is loving that bit of freedom going the other way," the manager said. The defender’s goal against Watford, assisted by Lamine Cissé, was his second in seven appearances this term.
Summer signing Ben Johnson, operating on the opposite flank, also found the net in the midweek draw at Cardiff. Between them, Bocat and Johnson have contributed three goals already this season. That output is three times more than Stoke’s entire contingent of full-backs managed across the whole of the previous campaign.
"He's a really good kid and he's desperate to do well. I'm delighted for him," Robins added of Bocat. The manager’s tactical tweak appears to have solidified a defence that had conceded four at Wolves, with clean sheets against Norwich and Charlton preceding the recent victories.
Injury concerns ahead
Stoke’s momentum faces a test with Bocat now listed among the club’s injured players. He joins Aaron Cresswell, Ato Ampah, Junior Tchamadeu, Svante Ingelsson and Bosun Lawal on the sidelines ahead of the next Championship fixture.
The Potters return to action at home to Sheffield United on Saturday, 19 September. Fans can check the full schedule on the club’s fixtures page and view the latest squad availability, including the growing injury list, on the injuries section. Eli Galbraith remains the team’s top scorer this season with three goals.
The original report is at The Sentinel
