Rapport från Dave, vår man på plats
Dave kommer här med en rapport och bilder från lördagens match mot Portsmouth.
Aye up duck,
In all fairness this was a pretty poor game and a draw was a fair result. Stoke clearly missed the attacking options that Etherington (& Fuller) bring to the team. I couldn't see Stoke scoring all afternoon so when Portsmouth took the lead I feared the worst.
Television pictures show that the penalty clearly wasn't one but fortunately the referee, who incidentally was the guy who sent Fuller off at West Ham, saw otherwise. Pictures also showed that Beattie was on-side for the second goal.
Pulis chose to drop Whelan and play Diao & Amdy Faye in the middle. Mama & Lawrence also returned to the starting line up. Higgy replaced Kelly who didn't even make the bench.
Sorro..............Looked a little nervous but overall didn't have a lot to do.
Wilko.............Thought he had one of his best games for Stoke.
Higgy.............Did well on his return.
Shawcross.....Good game. So unfortunate for the own goal.
Abdy Faye.....Another good display.
Pugh.............A little wayward in some of his crosses but did OK.
Diao..............Did alright but limited attacking play.
Amdy Faye....Did alright but again limited attacking play.
Lawrence.......Worked hard but not that effective.
Mama............Good first game back after injury. Caused Portsmouth problems in the first half by winning nearly everything in the air.
Beattie.......... First game with Mama and they struggled as an attacking partnership. Great penalty though and he nearly won it for us with the second.
Cresswell.......On for the tiring Mama.
Tonge............Replaced Lawrence and actually did OK.
.....Dave
