Begovic Saves the Day
Att: 27, 421
Britannia Stadium
Ref: Mark Halsey
The Potters opening day fixture against Chelsea ended in both sides sharing the spoils but both managers did not share the same views on the game. Chelsea’s new manager sounds like he could give Arsene ‘I did not see it’ Wenger a run for his money in the moaning stakes, Villas-Boas described the pushing and shoving by Stoke's players as "out of this world". Chelsea skipper Terry also chipped in saying that Stoke set out for a point straight from the off.
0-0 was probably an unfair result on reflection of the game, Stoke and Chelsea both started well with both sides creating chances early on. The new Chelsea boss had earlier said that this was possibly the best start he could ask for playing at Stoke as it would give him a real insight into the English game.
Stoke went about their business as usual pressuring and constant hounding the ball which forced Cech into a few early hurried and sliced clearance.
A Delap throw and a couple of Pennant corners caused some early consternation in Cech's penalty area and set-pieces continued to cause problems throughout. Stoke looked to have a real shout for penalty when Jones chipped the ball over to Walters who then flicked it up over Terry and the ball looked to have hit his arm but replays showed it hit his chest. Walters had the best of Terry in the first half; at one point Walters left the England skipper for dead as he skilfully turned him on the half way line and raced towards goal.
Etherington and Pennant switched wings and Etherington broke away down the right but he misplaced a pass as he tried to find Walters just inside the area. Late in the first half Bosingwa and Cech managed to keep out Etherington's in swinging free-kick under the crossbar at the near post after Terry had stopped Jones in his tracks.
Torres looked Chelsea’s most threatening outlet in the first half, he went on a surging run leaving Stoke players standing but the ball got stuck under his feet and his skewed a shot wide. Torres was welcomed into the new season by Shawcross early on when he hacked him down right in front of the new Chelsea boss who didn’t look too impressed by the challenge which saw the Stoke skipper booked.
Torres responded by dragging a low shot just wide and, in first-half injury time, bundling another off target under pressure from Shawcross. But threats came from other areas and then Kalou went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Whelan only for referee Mark Halsey to wave play on.
Boswinga then forced Begovic into tipping the ball around the post late on in the first half then Ramire’s run and cross into the six yard evaded everyone.
The second half was much less entertaining as Chelsea dominated but failed to capitalise as Stoke tired and Chelsea’s quality shone through. Chelsea also brought on Anelka, Drogba and Bennayoun three well established multi-million pound internationals compared to who Stoke brought on, Pugh, Whitehead and Shotton which is real indication of Stoke lack of quality in depth and the desperate need to bring new players.
The second half was mainly Chelsea but it brought the very best out of the Stoke back line and in particular Woodgate and Begovic. Woodgate firstly slide to divert Lampard's shot behind and then he blocked Torres six yards out as he swivelled to shoot from Terry's downward header.
Lampard was convinced he should have had a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Wilson but the replays showed England midfielder going down before contact was even made and throwing his legs towards Wilson, pretty pathetic from Lampard. Terry was soon around the ref harassing him, so much for the respect campaign.
Begovic then showed his class by tipping a dipping volley over from Mikel and then he made a world class save form Anelka when he tipped the ball onto the cross bar, if United’s keeper De Gea is worth £15 million then Begovic must be worth at least £30 million.
Even after having all three strikers on Torres, Drogba and Anelka they couldn’t break the steely Stoke resilience at the back, Stoke threatened very little in the second half. Etherington and Delap both picked up injuries and were forced off, Stoke tired and only looked like scoring from a throw or set-piece but the deliveries from Pennant were not his best.
Stoke will face much less challenges this season and with the addition of at least five new faces and the return to fitness of Fuller and Sidibe could really be a force to reckoned with and a certain claim by one Adrian Durham saying Stoke could finish above Spurs could ring true at the end of the season.
Man of the Match: Begovic, world class saves in the second half got Stoke a point.
Stoke: Begovic, Wilson, Shawcross, Woodgate, Huth, Etherington (Whitehead), Delap (Pugh), Whelan, Pennant, Walters, Jones (Shotton)
Subs: Sorensson, Wilkinson, Diao, Collins