They say that to do well in football you have to learn to win playing ugly. Against Stoke, ugly is all you’re going to get. As the snow fell, we left Bishop discussing Chopra’s comments that Gary Rowell doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Take that to Cardiff, Michael, and don’t bring it back. Cracking on with the Stoke fans in the Kings (at our table with the bell button in the middle. Go and give it a try, you know you want to) they revealed that Dominic Matteo is officially one of theirs. I thought he’d been drummed out of football years ago.

Anyhow, we started out much as we expected…

Fulop
Bardsley Collins Ferdy George
Steed Richo Deano Reid
Jones Cisse

But for the second game in a row, we lost the toss (I hope) and kicked North in the first half. Despite having Beattie and Fuller up front, the visitors steadfastly refused to play football, relying instead on what’s served them so well this season, hit, hope, and bump the opposition about. Jones battled away and almost got into the danger area after 6 or so, then Djib was almost through thanks to a defensive cock-up. Jones forced a great save out of Sorenson, but Reid slashed the rebound way over the top. While we struggled to make any really nice shapes on the field, we were always miles ahead of the visitors in terms of passing, but always in danger of being dragged don to their level,something we’re frustratingly good at. Richardson got in a cross from the right which Collins headed over, but he was adjudged offside anyway. Tony Pulis then showed remarkable tactical acumen by bringing on his second sub while Fuller was down and obviously knackered in the shoulder department after falling awkwardly when tackled well by Collins, and their replacements were all used up before half three. If you thought Howard Wilkinson was a tactical knacker, then have a look at Pulis. On came Camara, the source of much hope for Stoke fans, apparently.

Bardsley did well to dig out a cross from next to the flag on 33, but there was no-one at the front post to take advantage, and there were a few moments of nearly but not quite as we just couldn’t get in to the danger areas. As half time approached, Reid got the ball across from the left, Steed had an open goal with a header, and the rest is mystery. It looked like a blatant hand ball to prevent the goal, the linesman signalled for a corner, and the ref gave a goal kick. Confusion everywhere, and Reid lost the plot for the rest of the half as he tried to get an explanation out of the ref in the four added minutes.

No goals at the break, no changes for us, and despite there being no chance of a run out, their subs still warmed up.

Bardsley produced the first action of the second period with a good tackle, then Stoke won a corner which we cleared. Jones was dropping very deep at times, which got a few fans a bit het up, but then Reid played in McCartney only to see the cross cleared, which summed up much of our play – couldn’t get the cross past the first defender. Stoke should really have killed football and scored, but chose instead to hit the bar after a scramble, and we began to fear a draw coming on. Carlos replaced Steed, crossed from the left for Cisse to volley back across, then Reid did the same for Carlos to volley back across. Is it ever going to happen? Their man was fouled by Collins off the ball, hoyed a fist at Danny, and was shown a straight red. Just as we were dreaming of a thunderous shot from distance to break the deadlock, we floated a cross to the back post, and Kenwyne’s effort seemed to take an age to in under Tommy One. Get in, twelve to go, we needed to build on that, as they were only a corner or a free kick away from an equaliser. When Cisse made way for Healy, after Reid had been replaced by Murphy, we decided to try and run the minutes away. We almost let them in when Collins tried to play too much football at the back, but we got away with it. As yet another four minutes extra were announced, Jones turned well in the box, fired a low ball across, and there was Healy to make the picture altogether brighter at 2-0. A much needed win.

Man of the Match? All of the Stoke fans (despite their attempts to take Sheepfolds back to the seventies later on) for travelling in such numbers to watch such dross. Seriously, I’ll give it to Deano for being everywhere and putting in a real captain’s shift. Mind, Carlos did really well when he came on.

Keep the faith

Sobs' Book click here...