Stoke have the best defence in the league, only 23 goals have made it past them so far this season.

Injured goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has received a lot of praise for this statistic but watching the team without him, I think the back four deserve equal plaudits.

They are like a brick wall. Watching on, you have confidence that they will win duels, chase down every ball and keep fighting until the last breath.

They left very little for new goalkeeper, Southampton loanee Gavin Bazunu, to do on his Stoke debut and it’s now four clean sheets in four.

However, a great defence doesn’t win games or help lift Stoke back into the play-offs.

If the attack can match the defence, they’ll be near unbeatable but after one of their strikers Divin Mubama was stretchered off against QPR, there may be work to do.