Stoke City player ratings vs QPR as Million Manhoef left kicking himself and ref questioned

Reaction from Loftus Road after a frustrating defeat to Queens Park Rangers

Stoke City couldn’t find a way through Queens Park Rangers as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road.

Harvey Vale got the all-important first goal in a tight and niggly game when he pounced on a loose ball to slam home in the 75th minute.

Stoke could argue that they should have been playing against 10 men long before that point but Amadou Mbengue went strangely unpunished for a high lunge on Ben Pearson – to the extent that referee Tim Robinson only awarded a drop ball. Mbengue was later booked, while it was still 0-0, for a foul on Divin Mubama.

There were gilt-edged moments in the final third and Million Manhoef will kick himself for not converting a Sorba Thomas cross while Aaron Cresswell had a late volley cleared from under the crossbar by Liam Morrison.

Stoke were applauded off by a sell-out away end but they clearly looked annoyed with themselves as they prepared to make the long trip home with no points in the bag.

Mark Robins had named an unchanged starting XI on the back of the previous week’s win at home against Birmingham.

Stoke had themselves to blame for the first big chance of the game as Lewis Baker ran back to receive a shot pass from Viktor Johansson only to have the ball nicked away by Morrison, who touched it to Richard Kone to slide across for Vale well placed in the box – but not able to beat Johansson with the shot.

There was a surreal few minutes for Robinson, however, starting when he gave Stoke a goal-kick after Ben Wilmot deflected a Kone shot wide. He then strangely penalised Mubama for having his shirt clearly tugged by Morrison and, bafflingly, only awarded a drop ball when Mbengue lunged high into a bad foul on Pearson.

It was the kind of incident when some referees might have sent of Mbengue, nearly all would have at least shown a yellow card and none would be expected to do what Robinson did, including summon Wilmot for a talking to rather than the offending player or even the offending team’s captain.

Thomas pulled the ball back for Tomas Rigo at the start of the second half but Rigo couldn’t connect and then half-time sub Tatsuki Seko was mugged by Jonathan Varane just as he was pulling his foot back for the shot.

Saito forced Johansson to parry a fizzer while Thomas turned Jimmy Dunne inside out before picking out Manhoef at the far post to duck and send a header over the bar.

Johansson pushed away a 25-yarder from Dunne and produced another outstanding moment when QPR found space with a long ball over the top and it was square to Rumarn Burrell at close range, only for the Sweden stopper to fling himself to keep it out. Burrell was relieved only to be cautioned when he then stamped at Johansson in an incident that enraged the nearest Stoke players.

QPR found the breakthrough with 15 minutes left. Saito beat Seko to drift in from the right wing and Baker prodded his low cross only as far as unmarked Vale, who could sling a shot past Johansson into the far corner.

Stoke laboured to find that big moment to try to level but they thought they got it in injury time when Thomas, who had switched to the right wing, created a chance for Cresswell with Nardi stranded but the left-back’s volley pinged against Morrison and away.

Here are the player ratings from Loftus Road.

Johansson: Excellent one-on-one save to deny Burrell, who planted a naughty foot on the keeper in the following minutes. 7

Tchamadeu: Tasked with trying to keep a handle on lively Saito. Got in a bit of heat from home fans with his throw-ins. 6

Cresswell: Normally consistent set pieces were a bit of a mixed bag this time. Late volley cleared off line. 6

Wilmot: Prepared to give as good as he got as the game got a little bit tetchy. Can release Stoke with a long pass. 6

Lawal: Largely unruffled at centre-half until late yellow card to stop a run into the box. 6

Pearson: Caught by a bad foul by Mbengue after winning the ball well. Hooked at half-time rather than try to survive 45 on a yellow. 6

Rigo: First taste of life on the road in the Championship and had a couple of moments when he showed potential but will want to do more. 6

Baker: Relieved to get off the hook when he lost possession in front of own box in opening stages. 6

Thomas: A good contest against Dunne. One of his quieter games but still showed super skill, speed and cross to set up Manhoef and Cresswell chances. 6.5

Manhoef: Some build-up work let down by final ball. Ducked to send close range header over from Thomas cross. 6

Mubama: Lots of movement and hard miles leading the line, always niggling with the QPR centre-backs. 6.5

Substitutes

Seko (for Pearson, 46): Prepared to take responsibility and take the ball but a little vulnerable at times. 5.5

Cisse (for Manhoef, 54): Couldn’t find his shooting radar after making a good interception in final third. 6

Junho (for Rigo, 54): Wasn’t able to impact the game like he would have hoped. 5

Bozenik (for Mubama, 81): Tried to inject new energy in the final third and was ready to run. 6

Not used: Bonham, Donley, Bocat, Phillips, Talovierov.

Referee: Tim Robinson (Sussex) 2

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