Stoke end pre-season campaign in fine style with Premier victory

STOKE City signed off from their 2025 preseason campaign with a well earned 1-0 victory over promoted Burnley at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday. Ben Wilmot prodded home the only goal of the game in the first half in a friendly which saw former Potter Josh Laurent sent off for two bookable offences.

- Joe Chapman

Stoke had the lead as early as the 12th minute. A Million Manhoef shot resulted in a corner, and when Aaron Cresswell swung in the dead ball and Burnley goalkeeper Max Weiss failed to claim it, Wilmot was on hand to prod the ball home.

Here are the talking points from Saturday's game, as all eyes now turn to the real stuff which comes next weekend.

IDEAL SIGN OFF

Stoke have put together successive performances against Premier League opponents on home soil which really ought to whet the appetite for what’s to come. Derby will be an entirely different ball game - firstly the type of challenge Stoke can expect, versus the footballing types of Wolves and Burnley, but also the competitive edge of proceedings.

Yet what we've witnessed in these last couple of outings have been generally very positive, for a multitude of reasons. The recruitment conducted thus far looks to have bore fruit in certain areas; Aaron Cresswell and Sorba Thomas stood out on the left and look set for roles in the starting XIs to come. Divin Mubama worked his socks off throughout and will earn his goals.