Vår man på plats, Dave, är tillbaka
Dave, nice to have you back in business.
How do Lads,
"CITY ARE BACK..............CITY ARE BACK"
What a day!
23 years, 23rd August, 2-3 to Stoke.
Who cares that due to the extra traffic we couldn't park the car where we have done for the last 11 years since we moved to the Brit.
Who cares that there were queques outside of the ground to get in.
If this is what the Premiership is going to be like then bring it on.
Stokes largest LEAGUE crowd at the Britannia Stadium witnessed a fantastic team effort.
It really was a special day for all those connected with Stoke City F.C.
I've got to admit that after last weeks result and performance at Bolton I was more than a little apprehensive before the match.
If Stoke are going to survive this year then they are going to have to make the Britannia a difficult place for teams to visit and on Saturday they certainly did.
As Tony Pulis keeps saying the fans are going to have to play their part and you could tell that the fans sensed that as they got right behind the team even when Villa equalised.
Pulis made 5 changes to the team from last week. Included were 5 players who were making their home debuts.
The 3 goalscorers though were all playing for us in the Championship last season.
-Lawrence took the penalty well as Friedel has a good record of saving them.
-Fuller clearly enjoyed his afternoon which was capped by a superb goal.
-Sidibe has developed a skill when he can head the ball with his back to goal (He scored a similar goal against Bristol City last season).
For the second match running Stoke scored a last minute goal.
It was great to see the Britannia full and the whole atmosphere has not only followed on but improved from the end of last season.
To score the winning goal in a 5 goal thriller in the last minute in front of the Boothen end was incredible.
When Sidibes goal went in the whole ground erupted. Truly fantastic scenes.
All of the debut lads had good games but I was especially impressed with Abdoulaye Faye in defence.
He has the leadership qualities that the defence is going to need this season.
I was also pleased for Sorensen who was playing against his old club. The Villa manager, Martin O'Neill, had said that he wasn't good enough.
To watch Stoke as the main game on the Saturday night national television football show "Match of the Day" was simply brilliant.
Tony Pulis is also a guest on Sundays national television show "Match of the Day 2"
Last weekend was all about Hull
This weekend it was all about Stoke.
Lets enjoy the moment
.............Dave
Britannia Stadium har fått en "ansiktslyftning" i sommar.
Folket börjar strömma till bakom Boothen End.
South Stand innehålller den här säsongen supportrar från bägge lagen.
Lagen kommer in för den första PL-matchen någonsin på The Brit.
Lagen är uppställda på plan.
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Dags för kickoff, Kitson och Olofinjana.
Lawrence sätter straffen till 1-0.
Boothen End.....
Stokespelarna firar efter Fullers underbara mål.
Spelarna tackar publiken efter matchen.
Spelarna joggar ner efter matchen.
