A very challenging match for the Stoke City forward

In a difficult Carabao Cup clash, Stoke City faced a hard-fought match with no standout performance on their side, and unfortunately, Narcis Pelach continues to show that getting Stoke City back on track is a tough task.

Competing in an advanced round of the Carabao Cup, they took on Southampton in a significant encounter, revisiting a matchup after Southampton’s promotion to the Premier League. This was a crucial game for Stoke City’s season, but unfortunately, Narcis Pelach’s tactical approach didn’t shine, even though they were very close to securing a draw in such a competitive match.

READ MORE: Southampton 3-2 Stoke City | Carabao Cup Elimination for Narcis Pelach

Tom Cannon: an ideal forward for Stoke City

We saw that, despite Southampton’s dominance, Stoke City managed to score two key goals in this game. One of them came from Tom Cannon early in the second half, leveling the score at 2-2 with a fantastic goal that underscored his crucial role in the team’s offense.

Narcis Pelach had recently appointed the 21-year-old as the starting forward, recognizing his impressive present and future potential. Over his 60 minutes on the field, Cannon not only scored but also proved vital, receiving balls with his back to the goal. With only 11 touches, he was able to score a remarkable goal, completing one dribble with 100% success in duels against Southampton. Out of his 11 touches, he completed 71% of his passes, achieving 5 of the 7 attempted passes.

This match revealed the considerable difficulty Stoke City faced in the Carabao Cup. Despite having an important forward, who was expected to be more involved with the ball, the challenge of facing such a tough opponent limited his impact. Stoke City is now preparing for their next match, where they’ll face Derby County on November 2 in an EFL Championship game at home. Hopefully, this will be the moment Narcis Pelach can finally guide his team to victory, as they continue to struggle this season.