EPL: Butland’s Error Cost Stoke Two Points

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EPL: Butland’s Error Cost Stoke Two Points

Jack Butland’s calamitous error against Leicester cost Stoke two points in their fight against Premier League relegation.

The Potters had led through Xherdan Shaqiri’s first-half strike and looked comfortable in containing their hosts – up until the 70th minute when the England goalkeeper experienced a moment to forget.

Marc Albrighton surged down the right and fired in a low cross intended for Jamie Vardy at the near post. However, the ball flew past the striker, and his marker Moritz Bauer, bounced off the chest of Butland and into the net.

He went some way to atoning for his error with an exquisite one-handed save from Riyad Mahrez, followed by a superb fingertip effort to push Harry Maguire’s shot onto the post.

But he would have had no chance in keeping out Matty James’ stoppage-time header, which fortunately for his side came back off the post.

The point for the Potters leaves them in the bottom three with the rest of their relegation rivals yet to play. The Foxes move one place above Burnley, into seventh.