Stoke City: Narcis Pelach has found surprise solution to issue that plagued Steven Schumacher – View

Stoke City: Narcis Pelach has found surprise solution to issue that plagued Steven Schumacher – View

Stoke City’s defense appears to have strengthened recently, and Narcis Pelach’s choice of players paid off in their most recent 0-0 draw with Swansea City.

The Potters’ defense has not been noted for its consistency in recent years,

especially under former manager Steven Schumacher,

who saw them lose by three goals or more four times in his nine months in charge.

As a result, Spainard Pelach has had to make sure that they are not as leaky at the back,

and while it has taken a little of time for his new ideas to bed in,

their goalless deadlock in South Wales undoubtedly showed indications of progress,

and underlined the fact that Pelach seems to have found a solution in a position that troubled Schumacher

in the early stages of this term.

Ben Wilmot was the Potters’ starting right-back against Swansea as

Stoke kept their first clean sheet in six outings, as he also was against

Portsmouth when Stoke conceded just once to a break-away goal and hit six in return.

Wilmot has been preferred to Junior Tchamadeu in those last two games,

and has stepped up impressively ahead of the 20-year-old,

so should be the first-choice at right-back now for the foreseeable future as a result of his performances.

Ben Wilmot has shown promise as a right-back.

Given his nearly instantaneous willingness to start him there in crucial games,

Pelach was probably aware that Wilmot was accustomed to

playing on the right side of the back four for Stoke.

The 24-year-old has been a member of Stoke for more than three years,

starting 16 of his 120 games at right back.

His return to the position has taken some fans by surprise,

but after two excellent performances, Potters supporters won’t be upset.

He started the match against Portsmouth last week, going up against Josh Murphy,

a crafty left-winger. He nearly started the game off right away,

hitting the crossbar with a long-range attempt in the first minute.

He went on to win 75% of his ground duels, make five recoveries,

and complete six passes into the final third.

The trip to Swansea was no different, as he lined up next to Michael Rose and

behind Lewis Koumas at the Swansea.com Stadium,

and had a very strong performance as the Potters kept a clean sheet while

the hosts’ left-wing danger man Eom Ji-sung was kept reasonably quiet throughout.

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