Sunday, January 12, 2020
Bore Draw....Stoke City FC 0 Millwall 0
Something of a grand bore draw......Mr Rowett set his stall not to lose.....plan only threatened once, a goal line clearance from a close range Campbell effort keeping Stoke out.
This is a far different Stoke to that (those !) which appeared in earlier home games this season.Plenty of fight, and resilient, but sadly again not much in the way of penetration.
Allen had an outsanding game.....wonder whether it is his last for us?Any Prem scouts watching would have been impressed.Gregory's late few minutes cameo could be his last for us,with a move to Cardiff being on the cards.
Butland had little to do, two or three good saves.Will it be West Ham or Aston Villa for him? Time will tell,as it will with Campbell and Celtic / Rangers interest.
We are no longer an easy touch, as Michael O'Neill continues his rebuild.Still hovering above the drop zone though.
This is a far different Stoke to that (those !) which appeared in earlier home games this season.Plenty of fight, and resilient, but sadly again not much in the way of penetration.
Allen had an outsanding game.....wonder whether it is his last for us?Any Prem scouts watching would have been impressed.Gregory's late few minutes cameo could be his last for us,with a move to Cardiff being on the cards.
Butland had little to do, two or three good saves.Will it be West Ham or Aston Villa for him? Time will tell,as it will with Campbell and Celtic / Rangers interest.
We are no longer an easy touch, as Michael O'Neill continues his rebuild.Still hovering above the drop zone though.
Thursday, January 02, 2020
FIVE GOALS AWAY......Huddersfield Town 2 Stoke City 5
Well, in the end, that was a real pleasure.
After a short two goal wobble by The Potters, considering our 18 month form plus a massive 20 minutes left, there was no prospect of relaxing even when we reached 2 - 4!
My confidence though flooded back when we made it 2 - 5 with just added on time to go.A fine win against a Huddersfield side which had been enjoying recent success particularly at home.
Michael O'Neill's freshening up of the side was most effective.Powell made a classy difference in midfield, where Captain Allen was again at his busy best. McClean continues in the excellent form that MoN has helped him rediscover. Campbell represents a proper goal threat,from a defenders' perspective, not as predictable as Ince, quicker, more incisive and able to finish. Vokes with company up front looked much happier.
Have we moved closer to fielding our best side and system?
After a short two goal wobble by The Potters, considering our 18 month form plus a massive 20 minutes left, there was no prospect of relaxing even when we reached 2 - 4!
My confidence though flooded back when we made it 2 - 5 with just added on time to go.A fine win against a Huddersfield side which had been enjoying recent success particularly at home.
Michael O'Neill's freshening up of the side was most effective.Powell made a classy difference in midfield, where Captain Allen was again at his busy best. McClean continues in the excellent form that MoN has helped him rediscover. Campbell represents a proper goal threat,from a defenders' perspective, not as predictable as Ince, quicker, more incisive and able to finish. Vokes with company up front looked much happier.
Have we moved closer to fielding our best side and system?
Monday, December 30, 2019
Narrow Defeat ...Fulham 1 Stoke City FC 0
Not much difference between the bottom and the top of the Championship.Poorish first half from The Potters,much improved second half toward the end of which we might have salvaged a point.
But it was not to be....London is still a poor hunting ground for us.Shawcross effectively shackled their leading scorer Mitrovic, but Fulham went in front on 26 minutes through Decordova-Reid who tapped home when Jack Butland could only parry a Knockaert ball across the face of his goal.
The home side had further excellent chances but Butland was equal to all challenges making some fine saves.
Toward the end of the second half Stoke came more into the game and could have snatched a deserved point,Baath heading wide and keeper Rodak coping with a strong McClean volley.The impression that Fulham were hanging on in the end was confirmed when Rodak was booked for time wasting.
Apart from losing the worst element of this game was the sight at the end of Ryan Shawcross hobbling around with a calf injury,which looks pretty certain to keep him out of the Huddersfield game.
But it was not to be....London is still a poor hunting ground for us.Shawcross effectively shackled their leading scorer Mitrovic, but Fulham went in front on 26 minutes through Decordova-Reid who tapped home when Jack Butland could only parry a Knockaert ball across the face of his goal.
The home side had further excellent chances but Butland was equal to all challenges making some fine saves.
Toward the end of the second half Stoke came more into the game and could have snatched a deserved point,Baath heading wide and keeper Rodak coping with a strong McClean volley.The impression that Fulham were hanging on in the end was confirmed when Rodak was booked for time wasting.
Apart from losing the worst element of this game was the sight at the end of Ryan Shawcross hobbling around with a calf injury,which looks pretty certain to keep him out of the Huddersfield game.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
Friday, December 27, 2019
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