Stoke 1 Blackburn 0 – 19/12/20 3pm
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Fragile Nick Powell’s flying header grabbed all three points in a game that threatened to be washed away in a flood by the end. Blackburn were frustrated all over the pitch, but despite only 31% possession, Stoke controlled the game Pulis-style. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
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I was promised John Obi Mikel, whom Michael O’Neill was claiming to be fit yesterday. Not even on the bench, and no doubt enjoying some last minute Xmas shopping. Fletcher does grab his place back, but not from Ince…but from James McClean, who lacked edge in the last game. Blackburn can’t stop scoring, Stoke can’t start, but their defence is sound. This has 0-0 written all over it…
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6.01 1-0 !!! Fox’s cross from a throw-in is met by a flying header by Nick “fragile” Powell!! He’s the last person you would recommend to undertake a flying header. Fletcher drew the defenders away so Nick could ghost in and do his death-defying leap!
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21.20 Camera focuses in on MON and his Tintin quiff. He’s absorbed by this scrappy game with just the goal to report.
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22.15 Rovers’ Douglas has a shot rebound off the post, but it’s so well hit that Bursik doesn’t even move a muscle.
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27.03 Powell collapses after his knee fails him after a fairly innocuous challenge. He’s going to try and run it off, but is it really worth the risk? Jordan Thompson might be an option…? (Oakley-Boothe looks more likely judging from MON’s response, getting Tash to jog along the touchline.)
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35,20 Staggering James Chester has been yellowed for time-wasting, taking his time taking a free kick from the back. Bit of an odd one that. Batth might get a run after all.
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38.30 Dodgiest back pass from Ince thankfully reaches Bursik who clears. He can stop that right now!
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45.00 Superb back-heel by Fletcher to Powell sets up a counter attack that leads with Tymon actually trying a shot! (Blocked for a corner.)
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45+4 Stoke 1 Blackburn 0 HT
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46.10 Whilst the rest of the country waits for the very late nonchalant Prime Minister to give his press conference about the R number & Xmas, Stoke have come out of the traps fast & furious.
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49.04 Bursik comes out to the corner of his area to dive daringly at the feet of Armstrong. Phew. Timing is everything.
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61.10 The general thinking (apart from trying to ignore the PM) is that Jacob Brown has given the ball away far too much, and MON is planning a double substitutions.
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64.30 James McClean & Tash Oakley-Boothe come on Jacob Brown & Nick Powell. Meanwhile veteran Stewart Downing comes on for Rovers. Powell sits in the stand to have an ice-pack cling-filmed to his knee! Comfy.
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66.57 McClean meets a cross in the same way I usually do in Rocket League…missing it completely.
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68.50 As the rain pours down, Ince is scythed down but the ref ignores it! Thankfully Bursik gathers with the help of Chester.
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70.40 Bursik heads off towards the corner flag to clear the ball from a wayward back pass. Bit of a risk that. Meanwhile Vokes is thinking of encroaching on the playing area…I shouldn’t have mentioned him in the press conference, MON had all but forgotten about him.
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73.35 Vokes for Fletcher, and Thompson for Ince. Maybe Fletch & Ince can’t play in the rain, which is so heavy that it’s becoming biblically scary!!! The public announcement system has requested the presence of some guy called Noah…
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87.03 As the turf is starting to float off down Stanley Matthew’s Way, we look out to see if Vokes has done anything since coming on. Stoke with only 33% possession. Vokes with 0.000001% possession if that.
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89.39 Chapman wildly slices a cross into the away end. Laughable.
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92.55 Great save by Bursik, and rebound just wide. Hanging on!
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90+5 FT Stoke 1 Blackburn 0 !! (Just as I predicted!)(well, almost) Stoke up to 7th
