Despite suffering a heavy 3-0 loss, a few players from Stoke City stood out for their performances in what was a challenging match. It's important to highlight how these players managed the game despite the overwhelming superiority of Watford, who scored three goals against Steve Schumacher's side, a team that had been in fantastic form.
The focus now shifts to the third round of the EFL Championship, where the team will need to recover and move forward. Schumacher will likely concentrate on reducing the team's weaknesses through training sessions to ensure better results in the upcoming matches.
READ MORE: Tough Visit in the EFL Championship | Watford 3-0 Stoke City
Eric Bocat’s Strong Defensive Performance for Stoke City
In this match, Eric Bocat, one of Stoke City’s new signings this season, emerged as one of the key players. Despite Watford's dominance, Bocat had an impressive performance on the left flank, contributing significantly to the defense as Watford frequently attacked down his side.
The French defender had 79 touches during the 90 minutes, and his performance can be highlighted through several key statistics. He won 6 out of 8 ground duels and had a passing accuracy of 72%, completing 50 passes out of 69 attempts.
“Keep our heads up and learn.”
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 17, 2024
City’s captain on the lessons the Potters will take from their Vicarage Road reverse. pic.twitter.com/eFGN8vQICM
Bocat also made an impact in attack, completing all three of his attempted dribbles, showing that he could be an unexpected threat going forward.
Defensively, Bocat made crucial contributions with 2 clearances, 2 blocked shots, 3 interceptions, and 2 tackles. Notably, he was not dribbled past even once during the game and made a vital goal-line clearance that kept Stoke City in the match temporarily. However, he was also involved in an error that led to one of Watford's goals.
Eric Bocat has settled into Stoke City well, and his performances have been increasingly positive. The team hopes that he will continue to improve and contribute to Steve Schumacher's squad as they aim to compete at the highest level in the EFL Championship this season.