STOKE MAKE POINT AFTER DEFENSIVE BLOW

STOKE

- Peter Smith

City played out a goalless draw with Preston North End when Mark Robins was cursing the loss of another fullback.Aaron Cresswell limped off some 39 minutes into a competitive match of few genuine chances to leave Stoke without a fit recognised senior fullback. Right-back Junior Tchamadeu is on Africa Cup of Nations duty while left-back Eric Bocat is out with a knee injury.

It left Robins summoning Ben Gibson for his first league minutes of the season and his first outing at left-back since he turned out there for Middlesbrough in 2014. He helped Stoke to a welcome clean sheet as the Championship’s two tightest defences didn’t give much away.

Bosun Lawal and Sorba Thomas had half chances while Viktor Johansson did well to keep out Thierry Small at the other end but it seemed destined for 0-0 and Stoke's first draw since their first game of October.