Had a very quiet first half as Wigan failed to really test him but that all changed after the break. He was unable to do anything about McArthur’s goal which was curled neatly passed him and Di Santo’s volley was from such close range he couldn’t react quick enough.
The American defender normally plays at full-back but was deployed as a central defender in a back three and he did quite well, although he found it hard going in the second half as Wigan piled on the pressure.
Took a blow to the head early on in a challenge with Di Santo but that was not enough to keep the German down, and he performed well complete with bandage wrapped around his head.
Was very close to Di Santo all night and did his best to keep the Argentine forward quiet with crucial interceptions and well-timed challenges. He also showed his effectiveness at the other end as he swivelled to volley home a loose ball midway through the first half to give Stoke the lead.
He battled with McArthur and McCarthy all game in the midfield and showed real tenacity to come out on top in the battle. He faded a bit as the game wore on and the Wigan players took control.
Solid in the centre of midfield against the Wigan three, providing a good shield for his defence and limiting the number of runs from the opposition. He was replaced by Wilkinson in the 67th minute much to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Wanted to be involved as much as possible and he kept the ball moving nicely as Stoke controlled large parts of the game but his end product was often lacking as he either tried to be too clever or attempted impossible balls. He was replaced by Jerome midway through the second half.
Playing in an unusual wing back position his main job was to track the runs of Beausejour and he did this well, not letting the Chilean get past him and stifling numerous Wigan attacks as a result.
Much more of a winger than a wing back but he showed he can handle the defensive responsibilities with some good tracking back, and going forward he was a constant threat to Boyce with his jinking runs towards the penalty area.
He works very well with Crouch upfront, the two of them are on exactly the same wavelength and this lead to some nice link-up play on the edge of the Wigan penalty area. Unfortunately he was never able to get a clear shot at goal to test Al Habsi.
Despite speculation surrounding his future at the club he put in a professional performance, causing Caldwell plenty of headaches in the air and bringing Walters into the game with his flick ons. Had the simple task of tapping in Stoke’s second goal but had made a lung-bursting run to keep up with Adam and be in the right place.
Replaced Nzonzi in the 68th minute and helped tighten up the Stoke defence.
Replaced Adam in the 66th minute and worked hard but never found an opening to test Al Habsi.
The Omani keeper had a mixed game, though began well with some good catches inside his penalty area but he could do nothing about Shawcross’ opening goal. However he should have done better for Crouch’s goal, only parrying Adam’s low shot when he really should have held it.
Had a constant aerial battle with Crouch and was second best a lot of the time to the Stoke front man which caused a little bit of uncertainty in the Latics' defence. He organises the defence well, is very vocal and confident on the ball when required which can give his side a good base to work from.
Had his hands full against the lively Etherington and found opportunities to get forward limited as the Stoke man continually push him back towards his own goal. Was replaced by Stam just before the break with a hamstring injury.
Shaky at the back on his first Premier League start of the season but the 20-year-old Spaniard settled into the game with the help of the experienced Gary Caldwell next to him.
Handled the runs of Whitehead well and dealt with Walters nicely when he had to, the first half was a little harder than the second but in general he played well. He also has a real flair for getting forward and showed some neat touches in advanced positions for his side.
Worked tirelessly to keep his side in the game and did a lot of the dirty work to allow McArthur and Espinoza to cause havoc at the other end. His range of passing was excellent and helped his side control the latter parts of the game.
Like many of his team-mates he had a quiet first half but he showed all his qualities in the second period as he created both Wigan goals. The first came after a delicious ball in behind the Stoke defence for McArthur, highlighting his fantastic vision. For Wigan’s equaliser it was his cross that found McArthur unmarked at the back post and Di Santo was able to do the rest.
A frustrating evening for the winger, he worked hard to find space and create for his side but struggled to deliver. He was unlucky to have a hand in Stoke's opening goal, with his clearing headed hitting his team-mate before Shawcross scored.
A quiet first half was followed by an explosive second as he began to have a huge influence on the game. With his side two goals down he made a fantastic run to meet Espinoza’s through ball and finished with the skill of a natural goalscorer, and ten minutes later he provided a perfect headed assist for Di Santo to level things. He was then denied twice by Begovic with two excellent efforts on goal.
Worked hard upfront but had very little quality played into him with the tight marking of the Stoke defence able to intercept the ball before it reached him. When he did have the ball he showed some nice touches and good skill to create some room for himself but his shooting lacked power and didn’t test Begovic. He made up for his early misses on the hour mark, darting in front of Shawcross to meet McArthur’s header and fire Wigan level.
Always busy and always keen to have the ball, the Scot was a real thorn in Stoke’s side. His link-up play was neat and tidy and he found himself in some dangerous positions but was unable to find the final ball.
Replaced Boyce just before half time and did well, he kept hold of Etherington well and limited what the winger could do.
Replaced Beausejour with eight minutes to go but had little impact.
| Tournament | |
| Position | |
| Ranking |
| Rank/Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Luis Suárez | Striker | Liverpool | 3.52 |
| 2. Juan Mata | Striker | Chelsea FC | 3.37 |
| 3. Marouane Fellaini | Midfielder | Everton | 3.34 |
| 4. Coutinho | Midfielder | Liverpool | 3.33 |
| 5. Santi Cazorla | Midfielder | Arsenal FC | 3.32 |
| 6. Carlos Tévez | Striker | Manchester City | 3.27 |
| 7. Robin van Persie | Striker | Manchester United | 3.27 |
| 8. Leighton Baines | Defender | Everton | 3.26 |
| 9. C. Benteke | Striker | Aston Villa | 3.24 |
| 10. Eden Hazard | Midfielder | Chelsea FC | 3.24 |
| 11. David Silva | Striker | Manchester City | 3.22 |
| 12. Kevin Mirallas | Striker | Everton | 3.21 |
| 13. Leon Osman | Midfielder | Everton | 3.19 |
| 14. Tomas Rosicky | Midfielder | Arsenal FC | 3.19 |
| 15. Gareth Bale | Midfielder | Tottenham | 3.19 |
| 16. Daniel Sturridge | Striker | Liverpool | 3.19 |
| 17. Phil Jagielka | Defender | Everton | 3.18 |
| 18. Alex McCarthy | Goalkeeper | Reading | 3.17 |
| 19. Romelu Lukaku | Striker | West Bromwich Albion | 3.16 |
| 20. Jack Wilshere | Midfielder | Arsenal FC | 3.15 |
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man. United |
25 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
20 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |
