Stoke City 3 - 2 Birmingham City
Huth 44 Fahey 74
Fuller 71 Jerome 76
Whitehead 85
Att: 26,381
Whitehead Seals Victory in Midlands Derby
Stoke ended their barren run with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Birmingham. Whitehead scrambled home the winner 5 minutes from time to end Stokes five game losing streak.
Stoke made hard work of it in front of the sky cameras in the first half until stand in captain Huth gave Stoke the lead right on half time. Stoke had much the better of the first half with the wingers Etherington and Pennant getting down the flanks and getting crosses into Jones. Foster was kept busy with Jones and Huth peppering his goal with headers.
Stoke were claiming for a penalty midway through the first half when Foster brought Higginbotham down and referee Clattenburg waved away appeals, the Stoke faithful vented their frustration towards ref. Fuller then saw an effort deflected wide as Stoke continued to push on. A mix up in the Birmingham defence saw Fuller go clear but Foster was out quick to gather the ball from his feet.
Foster was then left flapping at a Delap throw as Huth put him under pressure, but the German soon got the better of the England goalkeeper in 44th minute to get Stokes first goal against Birmingham in 13 years when Fullers deflected shot fell to the stand in captain who dispatched it under the body of Foster. Stoke could have gone in 2-0 up at half time as Huth headed just wide from an Etherington corner. Stoke had a well deserved half time lead which could have easily been more against a subdued Birmingham side.
It wasn’t until the 56th minute Birmingham had their first chance when Jerome broke free and fired a low shot at Begovic who got down well to save it. Birmingham then threatened again with a bullet header from Johnson which Begovic superbly tipped over the bar. Birmingham started to find their feet and look more creative, Gardener fired in a rasping free kick from distance which Begovic stood strong to. Jerome nearly got Birmingham back in it when his cross was deflected on the post by Higginbotham and then 2 goal bound efforts were blocked frantically by Stoke defenders.
Stoke found themselves penned back in their own half as Birmingham pressed for an equaliser, but it was a long punt up field which found Fuller who took the ball down the right along with his man before cutting into the box past 2 defenders and curling a beauty past Foster to make it 2-0 to the Potters, a goal reminiscent of Tuncays against United. Straight after the goal Whelan was brought on for Pennant who went off to a standing ovation for his evenings endeavours, seemed to be a defensive switch by Pulis with Whitehead going out to the right.
Stoke should of cruised home 2-0 up and pushed on but they didn’t, Birmingham hit back 3 minutes later when an Higginbotham skied clearance fell to sub Fahey who’s neat finish beat an out stretched Begovic. Birmingham now with their tails up came again and Larsson’s cross from the right was brilliantly headed home by Jerome to make it 2-2. Another 2-0 comeback by Birmingham in as many days, there only looked one winner now as the Blues took full control. Begovic forced to tip over the bar after from a Gardener shot after Collins had been caught in possession.
As Birmingham looked certain to snatch it Etherington broke down the left sent in a low cross causing mayhem and school boy like defending from Birmingham with the ball eventually falling to Whitehead who’s effort sneaked under foster and into the back of net with only 5 minutes remaining. Stoke had somehow nosed back in front and were now desperately clinging on to the 3 precious points, Birmingham had renewed hope when 5 minutes were shown on the board but good hold up play and time wasting tactics by Stoke saw them home and dry along with a decent performance by ref Clattenburg to boot.
An inform Liverpool in front of the cameras again next up for Stoke who desperately need to tighten up at the back take their chances when their on top in games.
STOKE: Begovic, Huth, Faye, Higginbotham, Collins, Pennant (Whelan 73), Whitehead, Delap, Etherington (Wilson 90), Fuller (Walters 94), Jones
SUBS: Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Tuncay, Wilkinson
BIRMINGHAM: Foster, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardener, Beausjour (Fahey 61), Jerome, Zigic
SUBS: Doyle, Bowyer, Phillips, Derbyshire, Parnaby, Hleb
Man of the Match: Huth, excellent display from stand in captain best performance of the season and goal to boot.
Ref: Mark Clattenburg