STOKE CITY FC 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2
At halftime few people in the ground would have been expecting this result.Stoke were comprensively in charge having moved serenely into a two goal lead.
The Potters played some really good football in no small part inspired a lively contribution from Etherington.He made the first goal with a speedy burst down the left,outpacing the defender,crossing powerfully into the six yard box for - it appeared initially - James Beattie to bundle the ball into the net.It was however an own goal.
From a Rory Delap throw from the right(why do people keep coming onto Radio Stoke's P&G to say that the tactic no longer works?) a flick on reached Etherington on the edge of the Wolves box.His chest down and immediate volley into the back of the net was pure class.Game over....well it should have been...but it wasn't.
Stoke got off to a most unfortunate start to the second half.Within a minute Wolves had pulled a goal back and given themselves a real lift.A doubtful freekick from the right was played into the Stoke box.Jody Craddock,clearly offside to everyone but the linesman (the right term for this character...assistant ref is a bit too grand),headed in.Craddock couldn't believe his luck when he headed home the equaliser as the Stoke defence slept in.
The second half was more Wolves than a curiously disjointed Stoke outfit,yet we had the chance to win the game.From Etherington's corner the unmarked Stoke skipper,Abdy Faye,got to the ball but only succeeded in heading over.
So one point instead of three ......but I find the booing from some people around the ground totally inexplicable.What do they want?
This was an entertaining game,good value for money,four goals,plenty of effort,no rub of the green (which we definitely had last week!),and on this particular day the win was not to be.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
NO SHOW,STOKE
PORTMOUTH 4 STOKE CITY FC 0
A night to forget......
Stoke exited the Carling Cup in disappointing fashion at Fratton park.A goal down at halftime to Piquionne's header (17min), they conceded two soft scores in the second period to the home side after a decent Webber strike (55 min) .Piquionne (59min) was left with a tap in for his second goal of the night following Simonsen's fumble.Old stager Kanu completed the scoring (81 mins)following Glen Whelan's slip.
No real threat posed by The Potters, although Tuncay had the ball in the net from Arismendi's cross,but his effort was ruled offside.
Any pluses? Big Mama's return to action after his 7 month layoff.
Stoke: Simonsen , Griffin , Higginbotham , Cort , Lawrence (Soares 75) ,Tonge ,Whelan ,Pugh ,Arismendi ,Kitson (Sidibe ,55 ) ,Sanli (Moult ,82)
Subs not used Wedderburn,Lund,Parton,Connor,
A night to forget......
Stoke exited the Carling Cup in disappointing fashion at Fratton park.A goal down at halftime to Piquionne's header (17min), they conceded two soft scores in the second period to the home side after a decent Webber strike (55 min) .Piquionne (59min) was left with a tap in for his second goal of the night following Simonsen's fumble.Old stager Kanu completed the scoring (81 mins)following Glen Whelan's slip.
No real threat posed by The Potters, although Tuncay had the ball in the net from Arismendi's cross,but his effort was ruled offside.
Any pluses? Big Mama's return to action after his 7 month layoff.
Stoke: Simonsen , Griffin , Higginbotham , Cort , Lawrence (Soares 75) ,Tonge ,Whelan ,Pugh ,Arismendi ,Kitson (Sidibe ,55 ) ,Sanli (Moult ,82)
Subs not used Wedderburn,Lund,Parton,Connor,
Saturday, October 24, 2009
THE BOOKIES NEVER EXPECTED THIS !!
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 V STOKE CITY 1
The pundits are agreed that Tottenham will finish in the top six this season.They have the quality players,an excellent management team,the pedigree.
By comparison Stoke are the mongrels,a collection of others misfits,who play one dimensional football.
Today's match will provide much food for thought,and may produce a revision of those ideas.It was certainly Stoke's day.Kranjar hit a post,and Beattie completed a miraculous clearance from under his own bar from a Crouch goalbound header.
Our first away win of the season at a ground where we never really coped last season, and others have been hammered out of sight this.A clean sheet against a prolific expensive forward line.A first win at White Hart Lane since the heady days of Greenhoff and Hudson nearly 40 years ago.
All this in front of England boss Fabio Capello.
Stoke,starting with two changes from last week with Wilkinson in for suspended Huth,and Simonsen a late substitute for flued up Sorensen,spent more time than was comfortable in their own last third in the early stages.Simonsen pulled off some fine saves,as the Stoke team grew in confidence,certainly defensively if not in terms of goal threat.
The second half pattern was similar with Stoke holding their own.It was not until the 86th minute that the deadlock was broken.Ricardo Fuller forced his way to the by-line.His cutback was met by substitute Glen Whelan,matching his fine effort for the Republic of Ireland recently,his right foot shot curling into the top corner of the net.
Stoke survived - despite 5 minutes of added on time- to record a momentous win.This keeps them in 9th spot.
After the match Tony Pulis was clearly a happy man.....but evidently a man with his feet firmly on the ground...already looking forward to a difficult derby match against Wolves next Saturday.
The pundits are agreed that Tottenham will finish in the top six this season.They have the quality players,an excellent management team,the pedigree.
By comparison Stoke are the mongrels,a collection of others misfits,who play one dimensional football.
Today's match will provide much food for thought,and may produce a revision of those ideas.It was certainly Stoke's day.Kranjar hit a post,and Beattie completed a miraculous clearance from under his own bar from a Crouch goalbound header.
Our first away win of the season at a ground where we never really coped last season, and others have been hammered out of sight this.A clean sheet against a prolific expensive forward line.A first win at White Hart Lane since the heady days of Greenhoff and Hudson nearly 40 years ago.
All this in front of England boss Fabio Capello.
Stoke,starting with two changes from last week with Wilkinson in for suspended Huth,and Simonsen a late substitute for flued up Sorensen,spent more time than was comfortable in their own last third in the early stages.Simonsen pulled off some fine saves,as the Stoke team grew in confidence,certainly defensively if not in terms of goal threat.
The second half pattern was similar with Stoke holding their own.It was not until the 86th minute that the deadlock was broken.Ricardo Fuller forced his way to the by-line.His cutback was met by substitute Glen Whelan,matching his fine effort for the Republic of Ireland recently,his right foot shot curling into the top corner of the net.
Stoke survived - despite 5 minutes of added on time- to record a momentous win.This keeps them in 9th spot.
After the match Tony Pulis was clearly a happy man.....but evidently a man with his feet firmly on the ground...already looking forward to a difficult derby match against Wolves next Saturday.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
FULLER MAGIC BURSTS HAMMERS BUBBLE.
STOKE CITY FC 2 WEST HAM UNITED 1
Ricado Fuller was at his impish best today.He was full of it,backheels,flicks,and just so powerful running.West Ham simply could not handle him at times.He made both goals.He may not be scoring himself at the moment,but he came really close on several occasions.
Stoke got off to a cracking start with James Beattie getting his first goal(11min) of the season from the penalty spot,after some neat football by the Potters cut through the visitors defence.Fuller received the ball,moving way from goal toward the corner flag.His backheel unhinged the Hammers defence putting Etherington in on goal.He was tripped in the area as he was about to shoot.
West Ham pressed for an equaliser,forcing Stoke back into their own half .From a corner Upson netted (34 mins).It looked as though Sorensen was coming for the ball,but then backtracked leaving the tall defender with an easy finish.
The second half saw serious attacking intent by West Ham,but with very little end product - hardly any shots on goal,although Shawcross brilliantly blocked an attempted effort by Cole when he looked odds on to score.
Stoke attacked on the break,and as the half progressed the visitors found Ricardo Fuller particularly hard to handle.He got to the by-line on a number of occasions cutting the ball across Green's goalmouth.Some of these efforts were wayward,but one was converted by the inrushing James Beattie for his second,and the winning goal(69 mins).Fuller skinned Upson on the right,shot across goal,Green at full stretch pushed the ball away only for it to be bundled into the net,along with the covering fullback.
On the upside a result we just about deserved,3 points ,and 9th spot in the Prem table,but make no mistake WHU were no mugs.On the down side we could be losing the services of Huth for a while if the FA decide that he did indeed cuff Upson.
Ricado Fuller was at his impish best today.He was full of it,backheels,flicks,and just so powerful running.West Ham simply could not handle him at times.He made both goals.He may not be scoring himself at the moment,but he came really close on several occasions.
Stoke got off to a cracking start with James Beattie getting his first goal(11min) of the season from the penalty spot,after some neat football by the Potters cut through the visitors defence.Fuller received the ball,moving way from goal toward the corner flag.His backheel unhinged the Hammers defence putting Etherington in on goal.He was tripped in the area as he was about to shoot.
West Ham pressed for an equaliser,forcing Stoke back into their own half .From a corner Upson netted (34 mins).It looked as though Sorensen was coming for the ball,but then backtracked leaving the tall defender with an easy finish.
The second half saw serious attacking intent by West Ham,but with very little end product - hardly any shots on goal,although Shawcross brilliantly blocked an attempted effort by Cole when he looked odds on to score.
Stoke attacked on the break,and as the half progressed the visitors found Ricardo Fuller particularly hard to handle.He got to the by-line on a number of occasions cutting the ball across Green's goalmouth.Some of these efforts were wayward,but one was converted by the inrushing James Beattie for his second,and the winning goal(69 mins).Fuller skinned Upson on the right,shot across goal,Green at full stretch pushed the ball away only for it to be bundled into the net,along with the covering fullback.
On the upside a result we just about deserved,3 points ,and 9th spot in the Prem table,but make no mistake WHU were no mugs.On the down side we could be losing the services of Huth for a while if the FA decide that he did indeed cuff Upson.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
SUPER HUTH NETS!
EVERTON 1 V STOKE CITY FC 1
Stoke regained their composure after the disaapointment against Man Utd,taking a welll deserved point from Everton,a marked improvement on last years effort at Goodison.
They took the lead on 50 mins when Huth rose majestically to head Etherington's corner kick into the home net.Unfortunately within 5 minutes Donny Osman scored with a long range shot to equalise.
Stoke put in a strong performance which augers well for the future.
Stoke regained their composure after the disaapointment against Man Utd,taking a welll deserved point from Everton,a marked improvement on last years effort at Goodison.
They took the lead on 50 mins when Huth rose majestically to head Etherington's corner kick into the home net.Unfortunately within 5 minutes Donny Osman scored with a long range shot to equalise.
Stoke put in a strong performance which augers well for the future.
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