The Academy suffered an undeserving defeat in a Staffordshire derby on Saturday as they went down by a goal to nil at the Michelin.

The game saw Adrian Pennock adopt a 4-5-1 formation with Ryan Connor playing the holding midfield role and Louis Moult moving out to the left wing leaving Warwick Alexander up front on his own.

It was Wolves who started the brighter and the Potters defence had to be alert to successfully deal with numerous corners and free kicks in the opening exchanges.

The visitors had the ball in the net after 13 minutes after a low cross was been diverted in at the near post but, before the celebrations could begin, the offside flag went up and the effort was chalked off.

The Potters first opportunity arrived three minutes later when Alexander rose at the near post to flick on a Moult free kick. The flick on arrived at the feet of Urwin who drilled the ball across the 6-yard box where just a touch was needed to put the Potters ahead.

A cleverly worked free kick from Wolves saw them nearly take the lead as Tom Harrison had to stand tall and parry away a close range effort after the Wanderers number 11 found himself in space, just 6-yards out.

Wolves did take the lead minutes later as a cross was half cleared by the Potters defence to the edge of the box where it was rifled into the roof of the net leaving Harrison with no chance.

The game then settled down until ten minutes before half time when Stoke stepped it up a couple of gears starting with Moult who controlled Diao-Jiminez floated cross, rounded a couple of defenders before seeing his 15-yard effort saved by the keeper.

Nathaniel Wedderburn then drove forward from the halfway line, winning a corner after having the ball taken off him on the by-line. Moult took the corner that was headed back across goal towards Wedderburn who barged two defenders out of the way but could only head the ball into the side netting.

Stoke then produced some fine football to create another opportunity as Wedderburn won the ball in his own half, carried it past halfway before feeding it to Moult on the touchline.

Moult brought the ball inside and with Alexander's intelligent run taking the centre back with him, Moult had the space to roll the ball into the path of Andy Nicholls.

Nicholls collected the ball and looked to pick his spot only for a great last-ditch tackle to divert the ball for a corner and deny him.

Stoke continued to dominate up to half time and Alexander had the Potters final chance of the half but he couldn't direct Diao-Jiminez's floated cross towards goal and his header sailed wide.

The Potters continued to press at the start of the second half and Moult had a wonderful chance after Alexander flicked on McDonald's long ball forward.

The ball fell straight into the path of Moult who drilled his effort across goal from 14 yards. The ball looked to be heading for the far corner before ending up drifting agonisingly wide.

Stoke were now carving open the visitors at will as they struggled to contain the Potters lone striker Alexander who was winning everything in the air and causing panic every time the ball went near him.

This was evident when he chased a chipped pass from Nicholls, causing both centre backs to collide as the ball dropped.

Unfortunately the ball rolled to the full back who hurriedly cleared into touch with Alexander lurking.

Wolves then reminded the Potters of their threat when a surging run from midfield took the Wanderer's winger past three defenders before Harrison denied him with a fine save.

Harrison's clearance was won by Alexander, who nodded the ball towards the area. Urwin and Moult were racing in and their presence forced the Wanderer's defence to put the ball out for a corner.

The corner was delivered by Moult, and Alexander rose above everyone in the crowded area but his header skimmed the bar and went out for a goal kick.

The visitors had had to hold firm under a series of Potters attacks but now they had the hosts on the ropes as Harrison had to divert one close range effort round the post before the Potters were forced to defend corner after corner after corner as they were pegged back in their own area for nearly ten minutes as the Potters defence showed its resilient side, doing whatever it took to stop a killer second goal being conceded.

Stoke came out of that intense defensive period and nearly got themselves a goal as McDonald headed a cross into the box. Moult rose to meet it and headed it over the out rushing keeper but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

The visitors then manage to contain the Potters, stopping them creating any clear chances, until the 93rd minute when, with shades of Stoke's injury time equaliser in the last home game against Everton, Alexander pressured the defender on the edge of the 6-yard box forcing him to miss his header.

The loose ball fell to the unmarked Nicholls, 6-yards out, but his initial effort was parried by the keeper.

Midfielder Nicholls then picked up the second ball and, with the keeper grounded and the goal gaping, he sliced wide and the Potters last chance was gone.

CITY (4-5-1): T. Harrison, Diao-Jiminez, Vauls, Cohen (Stockhall 76), McDonald, Moult, Urwin, Connor, Wedderburn, Nicholls, Alexander.

by Dan Buxton