In the Championship competition on 02 September 2023, Stoke City hosted Preston North End at home. The match ended in favor of the visiting team, Preston North End, with a closing score of 2-0, indicating a dominant performance away from home.

Evaluating the performance of both teams, it is evident that while the home team Stoke City got far more chances for set-piece play, with 9 corner kicks compared to a solitary one from Preston North End, they were unable to capitalize on these opportunities and stay aggressive against the attacking strategy of the away team.

Interestingly, despite receiving four yellow cards, more than Stoke City's three, the Preston team managed to maintain their composure and scored two decisive goals in the second half, at 50:23 and 56:32 respectively. These goals within a span of six minutes drastically changed the course of the match, thereby demonstrating a sharp impact on the outcome.

The yellow cards acquired by both teams indicates a fiercely fought match. Preston's first yellow card in the first half at 24:12 could have potentially disrupted their rhythm, but they seemed to have not allowed it to affect their game plan. Stoke City's first yellow card came very early in the game, in the first half at 1:12. This disciplinary action might have affected their initial game strategy. In the second half, both teams acquired additional yellow cards almost simultaneously at around 62:52, which implies continuous high tension throughout the-match.

Preston North End defied the statistics relating to corner kicks and cards by focusing on their strength - efficient striking. Their 100% success rate in goal scoring, with 2 out of 2 opportunities ending in the back of the net, reflects better team coordination and superior finishing skills. On the other hand, Stoke City's lack of goals despite their shot opportunities shows a potential weakness in their attacking third.

In conclusion, this match was a clear demonstration of Preston's compact playing and effective striking, which eventually overpowered Stoke City's advantage in set-piece play. It also highlighted that the number of corner kicks or disciplinary cards do not necessarily dictate the outcome in a match, it's the ability to score that finally counts. Future bettors should, therefore, consider teams' conversion rate and their strength and efficiency in striking when placing their bets.

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