It was the second time in seven days that Leicester had gone 2-0 behind, but unlike in their 3-2 win over Aston Villa last Sunday, they were unable to snatch a victor in an entertaining contest.
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Though he did not score himself, it was the increasingly talismanic Riyad Mahrez who inspired the recovery with a display full of inventiveness and trickery, while Nathan Dyer wasted no time in proving that the club’s decision to bring him in on loan was an astute one, bravely heading home the victor to cap a fine contribution as a half-time substitute. Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay are both suspended. While they’d doubtlessly like to keep a clean sheet at some point, they’ll be enjoying their rampant attacking play.
“Four or five weeks ago he felt he could be involved but he didn’t have the capacity to do that”.
We know why, of course.
Mark Hughes’s side are yet to win this season and were 19th in the table prior to kickoff, while Leicester are second only to Manchester City, but now seem likely to lose their unbeaten record. “We must play the ball straight away”.
Meanwhile, Leicester City make just the single change as N’Golo Kante comes into the midfield and Marc Albrighton drops to the bench. The defeat leaves Mark Hughes’ side in the bottom three having failed to win in their opening six games.
The former Barcelona midfielder has not started in the league for Stoke since rupturing a knee ligament in January, but says he is fully fit and raring to go.
Stoke, meanwhile, must reflect on a great opportunity missed to get a monkey off their back as they remain winless and in the relegation zone.
Sunderland had hardly touched the ball before Callum Wilson scored his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign before a stunner from Matt Ritchie put them out of sight of Sunderland, who had defender Younes Kaboul sent off in the second half after the France worldwide had been given the run-around by Wilson.
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Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland has made a league-high 27 saves so far in 2015-16.
