On Tuesday night, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips and his Stoke City side were in Carabao Cup action, as they made the trip down to the South Coast to face Premier League side Southampton at St Mary's.
For the second game in a row, having previously not done so for quite a while, Phillips was named in the starting XI by manager Narcis Pelach, who once again deployed the defender in part of a back three set up.
It was a tough start for the Potters, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis opening the scoring for Southampton after 19 minutes, despite the best efforts of Phillips to keep the ball out. With ten minutes of the half remaining, Adam Armstrong scored a penalty for the Saints to give them a two goal cushion.
That goal seemed to be the final goal of the half, but in first half stoppage time, an attacking free-kick fell to Phillips inside the box, who found the back of the net with an incredibly well improvised flick, to score his first goal for Stoke. In fact, it was the first goal of his senior career altogether. A great moment for him. That goal was enough to keep the deficit halved going into the break.
Stoke City pull a goal back just before half-time against Southampton! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/JhgyRDgTYU
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 29, 2024
Just nine minutes into the second half, and Stoke had come back from 2-0 down to be back on level terms, after striker Thomas Cannon scored from close range, and we had a game well and truly on.
It would be late heartbreak in the end. Stoke had a chance miraculously cleared off the line with a few minutes left - Southampton would go down the other end and fire in a winner from the edge of the box, to secure their place in the final eight of the competition.
A real shame for Stoke and for Phillips, but there are positives to take for sure. To be that competitive against a Premier League side is a big plus. As for Phillips himself, that's two starts, and 90 minutes, in a row - as well as his first professional goal to go with it. No doubt he will be giving Pelach food for thought ahead of their next game this weekend.
That game will be against newly promoted Derby County in the Championship, this coming Saturday - live in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Stoke could finish the game week in the bottom three, so it is a huge game for them, and Phillips. Kick off is 12:30 GMT.