Stoke City sent ‘learning’ message after Preston North End defeat

New Stoke City defender Enda Stevens reflects on the defeat at home to Preston North End

The defeat of Stoke City to Preston North End at the bet365 Stadium can serve as a learning experience for the remainder of the season, according to defender Enda Stevens.

The 2-0 setback at home was the first stumbling block for Alex Neil’s team, reminding them of the uncompromising reality of the Championship.

One of these facts is that any team can beat any other team on any given day, and another is that the first goal is typically the most critical.

Stevens, a Potters defender, feels the defeat will serve as a wake-up call for him and his colleagues.
“The first half was tight, but I think we edged it,” Stevens remarked following the game.

“In the second half, it was just a lapse in possession and sloppy defending and then we struggled to get back in the game.

“It was a tight game, they defended very well and once they took the lead, we lost our way a bit and conceded a second goal out of nothing.

“They were defending deep and it was difficult to break down. The first goal is always key in games like that and we ran out of ideas in what was the first time we had come up against that style at home this season.

“We will have to learn from it, build, and make sure we are prepared to deal with it.”

With a huge overhaul of the side in the summer, the pressure is on the team to knit together quickly, learning how to perform as a new group of players.

Stevens is himself one of the 18 summer signings adding to that new squad, and he says that the side is learning all the time.

He revealed to the club’s website: “Now the window is closed, we know what the squad is going to be and we have to build relationships, continue to get know each other and start moving forward.

“There is huge quality and potential in the dressing room. The manager will be delighted with the work we have done and the fact he now knows what he has in front of him and he can start building.

“We have played really well at home and that is probably the first game where we haven’t. It is done now, there are plenty of games ahead and we now need to build and move forward.

“We are learning, we will come up against different types of teams in the Championship this season and when we have played well, we have looked a force and a really strong team.”