Despite losing the consensus pick as the best goalkeeper in the Championship and all of their recognised full-backs, Stoke City's defence keeps keeping clean sheets. Ashley Phillips and Ben Wilmot have been immense at the heart of a back four that has become ever more patched up and were again in the FA Cup against Coventry. The players who have covered at left and right-back have done so bravely and intelligently. It is very difficult to succeed long term in the face of such issues, but two league wins and another in the FA Cup have left Stoke in a much better position than anyone could reasonably expect given the circumstances. Coventry hit the woodwork twice and had moments of their own but cannot claim they were hard done by.

Source: BBC January 10, 2026 18:57 UTC