Potters grab point
Last updated : 17 March 2004 By Mark Holmes
The play-offs look a long shot after tonight’s result but the scoreline did prove that Stoke have very much established themselves as a competitive division one outfit.
Reading and Sunderland away represented two very difficult fixtures and the players can feel proud of themselves that they have come away undefeated. However, to make a real push for the play-offs, at least one victory was required.
That did not come from the slightly easier trip to Reading on Saturday so the daunting trip was made to the North East with manager Tony Pulis declaring the team was going for a win. This would prove difficult but Stoke were not to feel over-awed, having beat the Black Cats 3-1 earlier in the season.
The first ten minutes suggested that Stoke were going to be in for an extremely difficult evening. Sunderland came out firing on all cylinders and the defence had to contend with a barrage of corners and pressure. Ed De Goey was in superb form- he tipped one effort round the post then made a truly world-class save to turn a Tommy Smith dipping shot over the bar.
However, in the 13th minute it was Stoke who made the breakthrough with their first surge up field when Darel Russell let in Sebastian Svard who finished with aplomb, firing into the top corner of Mart Poom’s net. This gave the travelling fans real hope that three points were within reach. The players were also noticeably filled with confidence and the match did even out in terms of possession from this point on. Stoke were more than holding their own and although Sunderland did exert more pressure, Ade Akinbiyi was causing Gary Breen problems at the other end and nearly broke free a couple of times. Stoke went into half-time looking fairly comfortable sitting on their one goal lead.
Karl Henry was brought on to replace Peter Hoekstra at the start of the second half as Pulis looked to protect his sides lead. In fact, Stoke looked more dangerous in the second half and could have scored but Darel Russell’s low shot was well saved from Mart Poom. Just after the hour mark, it was Russell again- he was excellent all night- who slid a ball across the area that looked inviting for Akinbiyi but he just failed to make contact.
However, after soaking up so much pressure, Stoke have been disappointed to concede when they were arguably playing the better football. A free kick was pushed out to substitute Matt Piper who’s low cross was met by fellow substitute Darren Byfield who duly dispatched with a stooping header past De Goey.
This set up a tense final 20 minutes and many teams would have capitulated at this point against a side that hadn’t lost at home since the opening day of the season. 3 months ago, Stoke would surely have been one of these teams themselves but they further highlighted the progress being made under Tony Pulis by hanging on with few problems.
Sunderland did exert pressure but as earlier on, their flurry of corners was dealt with by the City defence. When Stoke did have the ball Darel Russell was looking to play the perfect ball to let in the front pairing. Last ditch tackles stopped Asaba or Akinbiyi latching onto one of these passes on numerous occasions but it the ball did get through to Akinbiyi right at the death. He shaped himself to shoot from around 8 yards out but a wonderful piece of defending from Gary Breen took the ball of the in-form striker’s boot. The only surprise was that the Potters weren’t awarded a blatant corner.
Stoke managed to withstand a few more long balls into the box and can be pleased if not entirely satisfied with the result. The play-offs look rather more distant now than two matches ago but a win at the weekend versus West Brom could propel the Potters back into the frame and if they are still in the shake-up come the end of the month, few would bet against a late surge for the sixth spot.
| Sunderland | 1 | Stoke City | 1 | Byfield 69
| | Svard 13
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| | Competition | Nationwide League Division One
Tuesday 16th March 2004 |
| Match Statistics | | 14 | Goal Attempts | 7 | | 10 | On target | 3 | | 4 | Off target | 4 | | 0 | Woodwork | 0 | | 13 | Corners | 0 | | 13 | Fouls | 14 | | 1 | Offside | 1 |
| Cards shown | | Asaba (23) | unsporting behaviour | | Halls (33) | unsporting behaviour | | Wright (45) | unsporting behaviour | | Byfield (71) | dissent | | Russell (71) | unsporting behaviour | | Babb (72) | unsporting behaviour | | Henry (90) | unsporting behaviour |
| Referee | Ryan, M
Lancashire | | Attendance | | 24510 |
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