' Hole in the wall ' Lamouchi made only

' Hole in the wall '


Lamouchi made only one change from the XI that beat Watford on the road, bringing in the more luxurious Romaine Sawyers for Andy Rinomhota.

Sawyers, Joe Ralls and Ryan Wintle were able to match Stoke's three-man midfield and City's backline proved competent enough to deal with the Potters' forwards.

But there was a hole in the wall. Every time Perry Ng pushed forward, the visitors looked for a ball over the top into the space that he left behind.

It is far from the first time in Lamouchi's tenure where the opposition have looked to catch the outside centre-halves off guard - fans will remember Joel Piroe doing Mark McGuinness with the same trick in this month's South Wales derby.