NO DOUBTING THOMAS IN HARD-FOUGHT TRIUMPH

SORBA Thomas made another decisive goal as Stoke City claimed a hard-fought win at Portsmouth.

- Peter Smith

Stoke spurned a couple of decent chances in the first half before defending doggedly in the second - and then got the all-important goal with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Chief creator Thomas has that knack of making things happen and his hopeful cross into the Portsmouth box was turned into his own net by Hayden Matthews.

This a result that Stoke had to dig in to get over the line, throwing themselves in the way to make blocks, winning headers and interceptions.

Viktor Johansson was still needed to make a couple of superb saves.

The reward is a first win on the road in an early kickoff since January 2022 and keeping the Potters in the conversation at the top end of the table.

Mark Robins had made seven changes to his starting XI from midweek, although this was nearer the team that had started the previous weekend.

Maksym Talovierov came in for his first league appearance at right-back, covering suspended Junior Tchamadeu.

Ben Pearson returned to central midfield while Bae Junho made a surprise comeback from injury, just a couple of weeks after dislocating a shoulder on international duty.