Stoke City have found a signing they have waited six years for
Viktor Johansson’s stunning double save against Bristol City was the latest evidence that Stoke City pulled off a great piece of transfer business
There was a slick Bristol City move in the second half at Stoke when, having already come from 2-0 down to be level at 2-2, Mark Sykes passed inside from the right for Max Bird to spin and slip a pass for George Earthy, sprinting between Ben Wilmot and Michael Rose to get into the box one-on-one with the keeper.
About 19,000 fans took a deep breath as Earthy poked his shot towards the left post – but then up went an arm from Viktor Johansson. The rebound fell to Sykes for a header but Johansson was already up, diving to his right to push that effort wide and away from danger.
That was on the back of an excellent diving save in the first half to stop a Bird long ranger that was arrowing towards the top right corner and it was no wonder that the home supporters behind both goals were singing the Sweden international’s name.
It would be helpful for him and less stressful for everyone else if he had to face fewer shots, of course, and Pelach admitted that his team had been “fragile” defensively. At the moment, 26-year-old Sweden international Johansson is setting the standards.
