Winner: Matt Rhead

The big man was voted Man of the Match on Twitter, got into Team of the Week in the Football League paper and generally bossed the forward line. It is odd to see a striker play in a six goal romp, not score and yet still get the plaudits. Once more, he is proving people wrong. He proved me wrong.

Every season since his first he’s been written off in some quarters and every time he comes back just as powerful and just as strong. This weekend he looked leaner than every before and his commanding presence up front was a big help throughout the game. 

He’s a handful, he holds the ball up and lays it off and whilst he’s found out in some games, this weekend wasn’t one of them. He ruined Port Vale and as a Stoke fan he will have bloody loved it.

Loser: John Akinde

If ever a game was made for Big John, that was it. A shaky defence, not liking balls into the box and allowing players like Shay McCartan time to run at them. Rheady offered one type of threat but even Matt Green’s late cameo showed they didn’t want players driving at them. John Akinde needs a goal to get going and if he was on the field there’s little doubt he would have been in the mix.

Only he wasn’t, he picked up an injury and sat the game out. It must have been incredibly frustrating, after ploughing on against stubborn defences like MK Dons and Tranmere to suddenly find a side so generous with the space and marking. With Rhead picking up plaudits and Green looking lively too, it wasn’t a good afternoon for our record buy.

He’ll bounce back.