Less than 4 days after completing the double over Wigan Athletic this season, we had completed another double over Stoke City. Both were done with an aggregate score of 5-1 but the two victories over the Potters felt just a bit sweeter.
To say there were some battles going on on the pitch would be an understatement but ultimately, it matters not. We won, got all 3 points and are still well in the play-off picture. Arguably still in the hunt for automatics, too.
Here are our player ratings from the game last night. Let us know what you think on twitter (@fromthefinney), whether you agree or disagree.
Declan Rudd
Dec was brilliant again last night. As I said after Saturday’s win over Wigan that I felt harsh criticising him for their goal but by god, he was a presence in the box last night. A brilliant performance, hats off.
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Rating – 8
Darnel Fisher
Darnell struggled in the first half and seemed to make some silly mistakes, almost as if he wasn’t thinking straight. Seemed to come out with his head screwed on in the second half though and looked like the star man we’re used to seeing.
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Rating – 7
Patrick Bauer
Big Pat was as solid as ever again last night. I needn’t say any more to be honest.
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Rating – 7
Ben Davies
Ben was simply brilliant last night. There’s been plenty written since the game about how good he is and how effortless he makes things look, including here (5 Things) so I won’t say too much more that’s already been said.
I will, however, say that he is vital to our chances of doing anything in the remaining games this season. Let’s hope his form is here to stay and he can stay fit, too.
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Rating – 9
Andrew Hughes
Hughesy was brilliant last night. From start to finish he showed what a difference having a left-footed left-back, fully fit and firing in your side can make. Long may it continue and he avoid injury for the rest of the season.
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Rating – 8
Ben Pearson
Pearo was brilliant again last night. The fact he got under so many Stoke fans and players skin is brilliant too. I won’t even mention the James McClean incident, it’s not worth it.
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Rating – 7
Alan Browne
Alongside Pearo in the middle of the park, I thought Browney was superb. His endless energy and ability to get up and down the pitch was second to none. Add his poacher’s goal to his performance and it was a good night all round for Alan.
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Rating – 8
Tom Barkhuizen
Barky fully deserved his goal last night. I thought he struggled to get into it in the first half from an attacking point of view but as he always does, he worked his nads off helping out with his defensive duties.
In the second half, especially after Alan Browne’s goal, he came into the game much more and it’s great to see him bagging regularly in what is now his best scoring season for us since he joined from Morecambe.
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Rating – 8
Daniel Johnson
I thought DJ really struggled to get to grips with the game in the first half but like the majority of the XI, he came into in the second half. Another good performance overall.
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Rating – 7
Scott Sinclair
Not his night last night. He worked hard, helped tracking back but overall I think he struggled to impose himself on the game.
We have to remember this is the most consistently he’s played for many months. He’s shown his quality in flashes and it’ll come more regularly, I have no doubt. We just need to be patient.
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Rating – 6
Sean Maguire
As Josh said in his 5 things piece, I thought Seani struggled to get into the game last night, much like Scotty Sinclair. I don’t see anything wrong with him being rotated in and out at the moment, it’ll give him a bit of a breather but also give other players opportunities to stake a claim.
I just hope the fans stay off his back.
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Rating – 6
Substitutes
There’s no denying that both subs had an impact on the game last night. Within minutes of both taking the pitch, we scored. Nuge was introduced in the 57th minute, we scored in the 58th. Gally was introduced in the 74th minute and we scored in the 75th.
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Both are deserving of a start in the next game in my opinion but that decision falls on the manager.
Rating for both – 7
