STOKE CITY FC 1 QUEENS PARK RANGERS
0
Stoke had to work really hard for this
win,and the three points. From a team confidence point of view the
result was vital. Watching ALL the players on the pitch there was
plenty of tension about. Our visitors have spent heavily on
players,many of them talented,but what they do not yet have is a
team,just a collection of individuals. Stoke by contrast definitely
are a team, all for one,one for all,though maybe sometimes looking
like the unfinished article that the manager argues that it is.
As in recent weeks elsewhere Rangers
set out to stifle Crouch, and to a point enjoyed some success.
However, despite the close attentions of one,two, and sometimes three
defenders,and with little protection from the referee,he still
managed to get to the ball,and make things happen. He got a couple of
powerful shots away on target,which were blocked; he still managed
numerous flick ons of varying accuracy which no other Stoke player
could take advantage of; but,unlike some strikers we've had in the
past, he does not seem to be discouraged by this close attention. He
just keeps on coming.
He didn't score,but he got his reward
just after halftime. Huth took a freekick from out on the
left,flighting the ball into the Rangers penalty box. Jon Walters –
he had a much better game today – got up well to head the ball
across the front of goal. Crouch did not seem to get much on the ball
as it moved out to the right,but what he did do was attract three QPR
defenders,as if flies to fly paper. Charlie Adam felt the benefit as
the ball reached him coming in from the right unmarked. His cool left
footed shot curled past helpless keeper Caesar into the left side of
the net. The winner! Adam's first goal to boot!
QPR had their chances,but were simply
unable to take them.
Now this result defied all the usual
Stokie logic!They took all six points from us last season. They have
not won a match this season. Their last away win was at Stoke twelve
months ago. Their last win was against The Mighty Potters at Loftus
Road last April. It's the custom at Stoke,that we always extend
charity on these occasions. The buzz in the pub before the match....a
QPR win was inevitable!
Lots of happy faces afterwards,all glad
to be wrong!
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