Narcis Pelach explains Lewis Koumas substitution as Stoke forced into retreat against Bristol City There were groans around the bet365 Stadium as Lewis Koumas was taken off against Bristol City to be replaced by Niall Ennis.
Narcis Pelach says Lewis Koumas was running out of energy when he was withdrawn to groans in the second half of Stoke City’s draw with Bristol City.
Koumas, on loan from Liverpool for the season, had scored the first and set up the second as Stoke raced into a two-goal lead at the bet365 Stadium last night and he remained probably the Potters’ biggest threat as the visitors dragged it back to 2-2 early in the second half.
There was the sound of frustration around the ground when he was taken off to be replaced by Niall Ennis in the 71st minute but Pelach, who has a game coming up against Sheffield United away on Saturday – and with three three-game weeks in a row during this international break sandwich – was checking the teenager’s physical stats.
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The head coach said: “He was running out of energy. I saw four actions in a row when he went late. He’s a great player and I’d like to play him more and more and more but he’s 18, he’s running out of energy and he has teammates who I have to put on to give them a chance to show if they are capable to replace. That’s why I did it. I have to use the squad. I have to keep them fresh. We need to defend and close gaps and he wasn’t doing it at the time.”
Stoke had come from behind themselves to draw with Norwich at home last weekend and Pelach was aware of the toll that had put on his squad.
He said: “It’s a long journey. There are lots of things to address, lots of things to work on. We lost control for the second time since I’ve been here, emotionally and today it was also tactically. They are difficult to press. When they have the ball, they keep it, they have good decision makers on the ball. Sometimes you have to accept that you cannot press, you just need to defend and protect your goal. But we were in between, we wanted to go and then they break the line and then you’re defending your box.
