The Positive Minutes Earned by Sol Sidibe in Stoke City's Defeat

The young English football prospect from Stoke City returned to the pitch after not being considered in the match against Hull City. Sol Sidibe, one of the team's rising stars, has consistently been a key player despite his youth and lack of experience. He plays a pivotal role in the team's offensive efforts and the connection of ideas in the opposition's half.

Although Narcis Pelach set up a game plan that wasn’t expected to see Middlesbrough dominate with possession and clear goal opportunities, Sidibe managed to earn some playing time in the second half.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough 2-0 Stoke City: Another Defeat for Narcis Pelach's Side

27 Minutes Played for the English Midfielder

Sol Sidibe, currently Stoke City's standout talent, managed to play 27 minutes, where he became slightly more influential in the final third of the field. Sidibe came on in the 63rd minute, replacing Wouter Burger, taking up a critical position in midfield.

During his time on the pitch, Sidibe made 22 touches with an 88% pass completion rate, successfully completing 15 out of 17 attempted passes. He also created a key pass that led to a scoring opportunity for Stoke City, which unfortunately was not converted. Additionally, Sidibe won two out of the four duels he was involved in, which was challenging considering Middlesbrough's dominance both in midfield and defense.

There is now anticipation for Sidibe to get more playing time in the next match, as his introduction brought a slight improvement to Stoke City's midfield. His ability to contribute with greater freedom in the middle of the pitch could be a decisive factor in the team’s performance.

However, the match ultimately ended 2-0 in favor of Middlesbrough, who were consistently strong throughout the 90 minutes. This is in stark contrast to the previous encounter on August 27, when Stoke City traveled to face Middlesbrough and secured a stunning 5-0 victory, with standout performances from Andrew Moran and Sol Sidibe, who controlled the midfield.

Going forward, there is hope that Narcis Pelach can work on turning things around during training, as Stoke City must quickly recover from this rough patch to avoid sinking into the relegation zone in the EFL Championship.