Rapport från Dave, vår man på plats
Aye up duck,
What can you say apart from....GUTTED!!!
To lost in this manner for the second consecutive game against Chelsea is just heart breaking.
Now then. On to T.P's tactics. I can't recall Pulis playing a 5 man defence at home before but it nearly earned us a point.
Huth made his full debut against his former team alongside Shawx & Abdy as Stoke started with 3 centre halves. Collins also made his full debut in the left back slot. The more defence minded Whitehead returned as did Beattie. Lawrence, Ethers, Fuller & Higgy were moved to the bench.
I thought the atmosphere in the first 10 to 15 minutes was top draw. "Your not signing anymore" in reference to Chelsea's ban on signing players springs to mind.
After taking the lead through Abdy it was unfortunate that we couldn't of gotten to half time at 1-0. The injury's & subsequent substitutions involving B.T. & Sorro led to the ref putting on 8 minutes of injury time. Of course, we know what happened next.
The second half effort was a heroic one. Brave defending and total commitment from Stoke.
Tuncay was brought on to help release some of the pressure but he struggled to hold the ball.
With no subs left it was just a case of holding on. Now, the danger of filling your own area with defenders means that ricochets can end up in your own goal or your goalkeeper can lose sight of the ball. To be fair to Simmo he doesn' t seem to see the ball till its too late but I still think that he could of done better.
Sorro....Such a shame that we lost him just before half time. I know that we've got Simmo
but he hasn't got the same presence on the pitch.
Wilko...Total commitment as always. Picked up a silly booking for a reckless foul in the second half though.
Collins...Tough, tough debut for him to make. Looked totally knackered at the end.
Huth.......Good debut. Settled in straight away.
Shawx....Steady. Good game.
Abdy......Got turned over for the equaliser but made some timely blocks in the second half. Over did it a little at times maybe.
Whelan...Did OK. Crossed for Abdys goal.
Whitehead...I thought he had a good game.
Delap.......The usual reliable performance from Rory
B.T......Should of got that shot on target at least.
Kits.....Did loads of work for the cause.
Fuller.....Replaced B.T
Simmo...Replaced Sorro
Tuncay...Replaced Kits
..........Dave
Pictures from Dave
