With a 4-0 demolition of Reading, Dwight Gayle snapped a 50-match goal drought to help Stoke earn their first points of 2023. The Potters earned their first victory at home since early November thanks to Will Smallbone's deft early finish.
Before Jacob Brown scored a late third, Tyrese Campbell doubled the lead in the second half to tighten the hosts' hold. And Gayle, who scored his first goal since December 2020 under fortunate circumstances, capped off a strong Stoke display.
The Potters improved to 18th while achieving their largest Championship victory since July 2020.BThe visiting Royals, meanwhile, provided little fight and lost their fourth league game.
Due to the absence of Nick Powell and Harry Souttar, both rumored targets for Leicester, Alex Neil faced a difficult decision over his starting lineup.
The hosts got off to a strong start in their attempt to snap a three-match losing record in the second tier despite the forced personnel changes. In just 11 minutes, Southampton loanee Smallbone netted his second goal in red and white to cap off a quick start for the Potters.
Andy Yiadom was deposed by Gayle before Campbell set up the youngster to score with a refined attempt. Prior to the match, Stoke's home record was tied for second-worst in the division. However, they rallied to capitalize on their early lead.
To the relief of goalkeeper Joe Lumley, Scotland forward Brown struck for goal from a perilous position, but his deflected shot looped onto the top of the net. Reading posed a threat of capitalizing on the home team's inefficiency in front of goal, and their greatest opportunity came shortly before halftime.
Yakou Meite found himself in acres of space, but his tremendous effort was pawed clean by a strong Jack Bonham. Following the break, the hosts were motivated by the possibility of a Royals reprieve, and Campbell was stopped by Lumley right away.
However, his perseverance paid off when Lumley was caught off guard by a curving shot that deflected off Tom Holmes. Shane Long and Lucas Joao were added by Paul Ince in an attempt to spark a late comeback, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
When Brown bundled home an alluring Josh Tymon delivery, Stoke made their superiority count and the game ended strongly. A long-range Josh Laurent shot that was deflected off Gayle and curled into the far corner concluded the memorable afternoon for the hosts.
The team led by Neil secured their first league victory in more than a month and their first clean sheet in eight Championship games.
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