Stoke City's under-21 side were defeated in their National League Cup fixture away at Wealdstone on Tuesday evening. The match saw the young Potters field a 4-3-3 formation under manager Sam Stockley but ultimately come up short against the senior National League side.
Wealdstone, managed by Gary Waddock, set up in a 3-4-3 system. Their starting lineup featured E. Johnson in goal, a defensive trio of J. Mundle-Smith, A. Fernandez, and captain J. Cook, with a midfield of J. Newton, A. Henry, D. Kadji, and D. Chesters. Their attacking line was led by T. Newton, W. Waweru, and O. Olomola.
How did Stoke City U21s line up?
Sam Stockley's starting eleven for Stoke City U21s included N. Cooper between the posts. The back four consisted of A. Dauda, W. Thompson, H. Collins, and J. Mears. The midfield trio was T. Achu, captain G. Kelly, and G. Morrison. The front three tasked with scoring were T. Martin, A. Walker, and E. Fearn. The bench held options like C. Clothier, R. Liu, P. Makavore, S. Phillips, and F. Poole.
The match saw a flurry of substitutions from both managers. For Wealdstone, J. Mundle-Smith was replaced by A. Francis-Clarke at half-time after receiving a yellow card in the 27th minute. Captain J. Cook made way for C. Lee in the 75th minute. J. Newton, booked early in the 8th minute, and A. Henry were both substituted at the 61-minute mark, with A. Kaunda and S. Atem entering the fray. D. Kadji was also replaced at half-time by J. Harris.
What changes did Sam Stockley make?
Stoke's manager was forced into an early change, with T. Martin substituted for P. Makavore after just 20 minutes. A. Walker was replaced by S. Phillips at the 70-minute mark, and E. Fearn made way for R. Liu in the 51st minute. Defender W. Thompson's evening ended in the 71st minute when he was substituted for F. Poole. These alterations reflect a game where Stockley sought to find a solution as the tie progressed.
Where does the first team stand currently?
While the under-21s were in cup action, the senior Stoke City side prepares for its next Championship fixture from a position of 13th in the table. They have six points from five games, with two wins and three losses giving them a negative goal difference of minus one, having scored eight and conceded nine. Their recent form reads as two wins followed by three consecutive defeats. The Potters currently sit five points behind league leaders Swansea City.
The immediate focus for the club now shifts to the first team's next challenge. Stoke City travel to face Watford, who are 17th in the Championship table, on Saturday, September 12th. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the latest standings. The senior squad will be looking to bounce back from their recent run and close the gap to the top of the division.
