Stoke City braced for frantic but critical three weeks up to transfer deadline day

Talking points from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City secure an impressive 1-0 opening day win over Coventry

Stoke City are off the mark for the new season with a 1-0 opening day win over Coventry. Here are the talking points from the bet365 Stadium.

A hard-earned but encouraging win

Last season is not too far in the past for anyone to get carried away with what happens on opening day but this was a good win for Stoke against a team that is well backed to finish around the top six.

There were genuine chances forged in the first half, with Junior Tchamadeu heading against the post and Million Manhoef, Lynden Gooch and Emre Tezgel all in the mix.

To be fair, that’s been the case before at Stoke – looking good but not being able to score before the opposition find one opportunity and take it – and it was a big testing period after Mark Robins had clearly delivered a half-time rollicking.

Coventry stepped up a gear or two after the break but Stoke’s back line marshalled by Ben Gibson defended the box with discipline and that’s when Stoke could still look dangerous on the break.

Coventry stepped up a gear or two after the break but Stoke’s back line marshalled by Ben Gibson defended the box with discipline and that’s when Stoke could still look dangerous on the break.