Stoke City secured a comfortable 2-0 Championship victory over Preston North End at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday. The win, built on goals from Ben Wilmot and Jack McGlynn, lifts the Potters to ninth in the table on 20 points after 12 games, a record of six wins, two draws, and four losses.
Wilmot opened the scoring in the 29th minute, heading home from a Jack McGlynn corner. McGlynn then doubled the advantage eight minutes into the second half, finishing smartly after a pass from Ethan Galbraith. The result extends Stoke's recent solid form to three wins and a draw from their last five league matches, a sequence that reads win, draw, win, loss, win.
A controlled performance
Manager Mark Robins praised his team's control of the contest. Robins said. The victory was Stoke's second clean sheet in three games, contributing to a defensive record of 16 goals conceded this season against 18 scored.
Stoke's midfield, marshalled by the influential McGlynn, dominated possession and limited Preston to few clear chances. The visitors, who have struggled for form, offered little threat throughout the 90 minutes. This latest result leaves Stoke just five points behind league leaders Middlesbrough, a gap that shows the competitive nature of the early-season promotion race.
Building momentum
The three points provide a significant boost ahead of a quick turnaround. Stoke travel to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Tuesday night. Blackburn, currently 11th in the table, will present another tough test in a congested part of the standings.
With 18 goals scored so far, Stoke's attack is finding a consistent rhythm. The partnership between the goalscorers and providers like Galbraith is proving effective. This win against Preston follows a goalless draw with Bristol City and a hard-fought 1-0 away victory at Derby County, showing the team can grind out results in different ways. Their recent run also includes a 2-3 home defeat to Middlesbrough and a 2-1 win at Bolton.
Stoke's next run of fixtures includes the trip to Blackburn before a home game against Coventry City next weekend. Securing back-to-back wins would propel them firmly into the top-six conversation. The squad will be looking to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for Tuesday's match under the lights.
The original report is at Sky Sports Football
