Steven Schumacher pointed to a vital first-half save from Viktor Johansson as the foundation for Stoke City's 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers. The win, secured through goals from Lamine Cisse and Ben Wilmot, maintains the Potters' sixth-place position in the Championship with 16 points from 10 games.
Johansson denied Bolton's Kyliane Dong in a one-on-one situation before Stoke were reduced to ten men by Maxi Talovierov's 20th-minute red card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Cisse struck just before half-time and Wilmot added a second after the break, with Theo Bair's late consolation coming in stoppage time. Schumacher, who managed Stoke when Johansson was signed from Rotherham in 2024, said the goalkeeper's intervention was exactly what the team needed. He noted that Stoke have often been behind on expected goals metrics recently but find ways to win through experience and decisive moments.
The manager was frustrated with his Bolton side's performance, stating they made key errors at bad times and lacked the energy to exploit their extra man. He acknowledged that Cisse's goal on the stroke of half-time changed the entire outlook of the match, allowing Stoke to dig in and manage the game. Johansson, last season's Stoke Player of the Year, further cemented his reputation with another important stop from Sam Dalby in the second period.
This result is part of a strong run for Stoke, who have taken 10 points from their last five matches. They face a quick turnaround with a trip to face 23rd-placed Derby County next.
The original report is at uk.sports.yahoo.com
