The Lads welcomed the Potters, who'd presumably braved the horrors of Storm Darragh, to windy Wearside and in the filthiest weather eventually won a game we should have really taken comfortably. Not that I'm complaining as we've won after that run of draws, but Stoke deserved nowt because of their time-wasting from the off.
Setting the alarm for a home game will never seem right, but it had to be done and even Monty the bus dog seemed confused by the early start. Didn't stop him trying to nick my sandwiches, mind, but even he agreed that there are too many who've played for both sides to start a chat. But we had Cirkin back, which was a massive boost both defensively and attacking wise, and we discussed who'd play where in our defence as we flew through in record time. A bit of a scary ride when sat in the front seat, but only 25 miles compared to however far the Italian Mackems have travelled in this manky weather. Well done, Lads. Mind, with the wind and weather fleeing in from every direction it was a wonder that the walk across the big bridge was relatively peaceful.
Patterson
Hume Ballard O'Nien Alese
Neil (c) Bellingham
Roberts Rigg Watson
Isidor
... and a bench of Moore, Cirkin, Rusyn, Mayenda, Johnson, Hjelde, Connolly, Aouchiche, and Aleksic.
Unsurprisingly, the queues outside the East stand were considerably shorter than usual as the weather pelted down, folks were still wearing shorts, and hats, knees, and sleeves were held under the hand driers. Mr Winks' heated coat became the object of desire in the back of the north stand as we braced ourselves for the damp fun and games.
Stoke wore all black and kicked off toward the north stand with Gooooch on the bench. We quickly got the ball off them and Roberts cut in and fired just over the near angle in the first minute as we pushed straight up. However, what looked like a ridiculously offside run by Stoke brought a Patto save and an easy follow-up.Never mind, straight from the restart Watson's shot skidded low past a motionless keeper. Wahey! Nice one, Tommy.
We produced some mad pressure around 14 minutes just before the applause for young Lucy Coatsworth. A sad reminder that it's only a game.
The half was mostly about us passing it about near their penalty box and them trying to hit us on the break, which they be nearly did a couple times. We needed a great header by Hume to break up one at the expense of a corner but Stoke, despite being level, seemed intent on taking forever over dead balls, which was strange as they had someone who could hoy it (loopy, not Delap-style) into our box. A Rigg chance when it dropped to him in the box wasn't hit cleanly, meaning an easy take for the keeper, and that preceded a string of good saves. Issy was onto a long one from Alese but the shot was saved, then he got to a cross from the same mate at the near post - but it went a foot wide as we were up celebrating.
There was an eventual yellow for the visitors after persistent fouling, but it was for someone in their dugout rather than a player, which was a surprise.
One minute was all we got added, presumably because of the weather and lack of anything contentious. We should really have been ahead, but we weren't losing, which is s always nice.
No changes after Barry Siddall did the draw, but news from Australia reckoned their goal was legit. Bugger.
Watson did well to break down the left a couple of minutes in and cut it back, but the shot was blocked and the keeper punched the loose ball all away.
On 51 Alese won a corner on our left which went for one on the other side but we couldn't force it home. Stoke upped their game and enjoyed (if that's the right word) more possession, but we kept them at bay and just after the hour Jobe got onto a cross but was clattered as he headed. Ten minutes later Watson was away again, the cut back was brilliant but we could they the shot away. Then Roberts did well to get it in, Issy swung and missed the ball which probably put young Tommy off and his shot was... well, into the away fans.
As an example of how weak the ref was, he allowed the free for an offside on the penalty spot to be taken outside the box. Unbelievable, Jeff.
With twelve to go, Cirkin and Mayenda replaced Alese and Rigg, and Denis had an almost immediate effect as we got the ball into the net, but Issy was offside when Mayenda couldn't score direct. Naturally this was a cue for their keeper to feign injury again, but soon after Roberts was away down the left again and when he got it in, there was Watson taking advantage of the presence of our second forward to drift into the box and win it. Brilliant.
A foot up on Patto's clearance didn't bring the compulsory yellow, but on came Hjelde for Isidor who'd twanged summat, or got cramp. Jobe tried to hold onto the ball forever but somehow only got caught once. Four added minutes were announced, Patto made a comfortable save, we went over by a minute and then we'd win.
Massive relief even if it was thoroughly deserved and that proverbial monkey is now off our backs.
Man of the Match? I'll give you one guess. One of own has grown over the last three or four games from a wide-eyed kid to a fully fledged footballer who can score twice to win a game. Nice one, Tommy Watson.
