STOKE CITY FC 2 PORTSMOUTH 2
This was an interesting,if at times nervy encounter.Not a lot happened until the last 20 minutes.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed for both teams.Stoke defended solidly until they were undone by a rebound from an Abdy Faye tackle.The ball found Nugent who immediately played the ball through to Kranjcar who slipped the ball beneath Sorensen for Pompey's opener.
Almost from the restart a Stoke long ball over the top was headed backwards by Campbell under challenge from Sidibe.Johnson chested the ball down but was adjudged to have used his arm...a fortunate penalty break for the Potters.Beattie gave England keeper James no chance from the spot.....all square.
Again in very little time Stoke were ahead....this beautifully worked goal from open play the only one owing nothing to luck.Wilkinson broke down the right wing as he had done on several earlier occasions.His cross under pressure reached Pugh at the far post.He skillfully and deliberately drove the ball into the ground.It rose above the Pompey defenders for Beattie to head into the net at the far post from three yards out.
Stoke played out the remaining 10 minutes without too many frights.The ref then magically conjured 4 extra minutes...this seems almost to be a default figure nowadays.With 2 minutes gone the ball reached Hreidarsson in the Stoke box .He was not challenged,shot speculatively.The ball appeared to be going wide but deflected sadly off (the admirable)Shawcross into the net.
Two each....game over..one point instead of three.Still not getting the full rub of the green.......
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
10 Men Stoke Fail to Light The Stadium
SUNDERLAND 2 STOKE CITY FC 0
What is it with Stoke at the moment?For the second week running an act of apparent stupidity leaves the team exposed,the difference being that this week the 10 men were unable to keep Sunderland out.
The match was even until the 65th minute,nicely poised at 0 - 0,and with every likelihood that we would come away with at least a point.Unfortunately Etherington earned himself a straight red card from Ref Styles for having a go at Collins.
Thereafter it was all hands to the pumps,but with growing Sunderland pressure, Jones met Reid's measured cross to head the home side into the lead on 78 minutes.They made sure of the result by adding a second goal through sub Healy in the 93rd minute.
Stoke started the game very brightly,but were undone by some seriously bad luck.Within half an hour all three substitues had been called upon.Pugh replaced Wilkinson at fullback,Sonko came on for Shawcross,and Fuller on one of his trademark runs to the byline fell heavily,seemingly dislocating his shoulder,to be replaced by Camara.
A little good fortune saw two goal line clearances, the first by Pugh should have been a red card if the officials had seen that the player did not make the clearance as they thought with his chest.The second was a good header away by Kelly.
Shortly after Etherington's dismissal Stoke had their best chance,but Camara contrived to put the ball over a gaping net from 5 yards out.
Could have been worse....WBA,Middlesborough,and Blackburn all managed to lose too....so it's as you were at the bottom of the table.
What is it with Stoke at the moment?For the second week running an act of apparent stupidity leaves the team exposed,the difference being that this week the 10 men were unable to keep Sunderland out.
The match was even until the 65th minute,nicely poised at 0 - 0,and with every likelihood that we would come away with at least a point.Unfortunately Etherington earned himself a straight red card from Ref Styles for having a go at Collins.
Thereafter it was all hands to the pumps,but with growing Sunderland pressure, Jones met Reid's measured cross to head the home side into the lead on 78 minutes.They made sure of the result by adding a second goal through sub Healy in the 93rd minute.
Stoke started the game very brightly,but were undone by some seriously bad luck.Within half an hour all three substitues had been called upon.Pugh replaced Wilkinson at fullback,Sonko came on for Shawcross,and Fuller on one of his trademark runs to the byline fell heavily,seemingly dislocating his shoulder,to be replaced by Camara.
A little good fortune saw two goal line clearances, the first by Pugh should have been a red card if the officials had seen that the player did not make the clearance as they thought with his chest.The second was a good header away by Kelly.
Shortly after Etherington's dismissal Stoke had their best chance,but Camara contrived to put the ball over a gaping net from 5 yards out.
Could have been worse....WBA,Middlesborough,and Blackburn all managed to lose too....so it's as you were at the bottom of the table.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Tony Pulis Continues To Buy And Borrow Wisely
Following up on his excellent purchases at the beginning of the transfer window the manager added two loanees to his squad.
Striker Henri Camara joins us from Wigan.Another Senegal international he will add to our goal threat.Pacey and capable of scoring spectacular goals,he is with us until the end of the season.Behind the scenes Salif Diao has been instrumental in the move.
Right back Stephen Kelly,25, an Eire international was an ever present last season in Birmingham City's Premiership season.By all accounts very effective too.His appearances for the Blues have been limited this season because of a thigh injury....just right for us then.....our manager,his medical,physio,and fitness teams having a phenomenal record of persuading the wounded to pick up their beds and walk the Stoke City walk!!
Striker Henri Camara joins us from Wigan.Another Senegal international he will add to our goal threat.Pacey and capable of scoring spectacular goals,he is with us until the end of the season.Behind the scenes Salif Diao has been instrumental in the move.
Right back Stephen Kelly,25, an Eire international was an ever present last season in Birmingham City's Premiership season.By all accounts very effective too.His appearances for the Blues have been limited this season because of a thigh injury....just right for us then.....our manager,his medical,physio,and fitness teams having a phenomenal record of persuading the wounded to pick up their beds and walk the Stoke City walk!!
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