Wigan Athletic v Stoke City recap - Humphrys edges tight game for hosts
Michael O'Neill's team were playing their penultimate warm-up game before the new season kicks off
The clock is ticking down fast for Stoke City as they prepare for the new Championship season.
They were in action at Wigan Athletic last night in what was their penultimate friendly of the summer, having returned from a training camp in Northern Ireland to beat Crewe and Aston Villa.
Manager Michael O'Neill gave more of his squad match minutes at the DW Stadium as he shapes his side for the 2021/22 campaign, which gets underway at home against Reading on August 7.
Last night's match was the first at the DW Stadium in front of supporters since before the first national lockdown in March 2020, when O'Neill's old club, Wigan, were still in the Championship and had yet to be plunged into administration.
Stoke star man Nick Powell was up against his former team last night, and remains a big fans' favourite at the DW.
We have taken a look back at last night's action with Pete Smith and Mark Mothershaw...
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Key Events
What have we learned from that?
There are still a couple of cobwebs to blow away.
Stoke need a bit more quality in depth in their squad, but that's no secret.
GOAL! Wigan 2 Stoke 1 - Stevie Humphrys
Wigan lead.
It's Stevie Humphrys, who was linked with Stoke while he was with Rochdale before joining Wigan earlier this summer.
Morgan Fox lost the ball in a bad place, Will Keane squared it and Humphrys was unmarked and free to knock it in.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Lovely footwork already from Vrancic, who is quickly making a difference. He was known as a super sub for Norwich last season.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Chance for Christian Norton as Jamie Jones mis-kicks a clearance. He takes his time to pull the trigger and his shot is blocked.
A pat on the back for Tom Ince
Tom Ince's evening comes to an end but it was pretty positive.
He is replaced by Christian Norton and Michael O'Neill puts his arm around the forward, gives him a slap on the back and looks like he has a few nice words in his ear.
Substitutions
Vrancic on for Clucas, Norton on for Ince.
For Wigan, Stoke-linked Stevie Humphrys replaces Charlie Wyke.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Sam Clucas turns Maradona as he swizzles and dances through the Wigan defence before trying to squeeze a shot inside the near post. Saved, corner, cleared.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Tom Ince goes down hoping for a penalty but the only appeal really comes from the Stoke fans - and that was pretty half-hearted.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
A couple of neat touches already from Adam Porter, spinning in the middle of midfield and moving the ball around quickly.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Tom Ince cuts inside from the right and has a nibble. It's a low shot too close to Jones.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Still a back four for Stoke, with Fox alongside Batth in the middle.
Looks like Jones is getting the full 90 at left-back.
Substitutions
A standing ovation for Nick Powell from Wigan fans as he makes way for Adam Porter.
Lewis Macari is off for Smith, Chester is off for Fox.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Almost a second ridiculous goal of pre-season for Nick Powell as Jamie Jones juggles the ball on his own line.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
We're going to see a few subs from Stoke imminently. Porter, Fox and Smith are stripped and ready.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Smith, Fox, Vrancic and Porter are warming up for Stoke as if they expect to come on this evening.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Stoke settling into a little bit of possession and Tymon plays a nice one-two with Clucas to get down the left.
Wigan snuff that out but Stoke are upping the ante a little.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Ince does well again bursting down the right and his cross is knocked back towards Eddy Jones, who absolutely wellies it. That's heading for Shevington.
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
It feels quite tranquil inside the stadium without the lingering murmur of that irritating drum, or the pounding PA system that we had to endure during the break.
The much-welcomed return of real fan-noise is all we need here tonight.
Oh, and maybe another Stoke goal or two.
Not too much to ask is it?
Wigan 1 Stoke 1
Same system for Stoke with those like for like changes.
They're attacking towards a few hundred Stoke fans behind the goal this half.
Substitutions
Jacob Brown replaces Will Goodwin for Stoke.
Danny Batth replaces Ben Wilmot.
Jack Bonham replaces Joe Bursik.
Half-time
Wigan are pretty much roared off by the home fans.
A bit of an up and down half for Stoke. At times they moved the ball quickly and made a couple of chances but there were a few rusty touches to get out of the system.
Tom Ince getting the headlines so far.
GOAL! Wigan 1 Stoke 1 - Tom Ince
Tom Ince!
The ball is worked over from left to right and Ince takes his chance well, low to Jones's bottom corner.
Ince has done all right this half, energetic with a couple of nice touches in an otherwise inexperienced front three.
