Stoke steal late-point in first “BCD” game

Reading (1) 1 Stoke (0) 1
20/06/20 3pm Chsp
BCD (Behind Closed Doors!)
A late-late goal by Nick Powell, who’d struggled all afternoon, gave Stoke a valuable point after falling behind on 7 minutes at Reading. The attacking substitutions (Vokes, McClean, Smith, Gregory) eventually paid dividends, but hands up who gave up watching their TV stream before the equaliser? Thankfully, for those that did, here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
Well, this is weird: Watching a Stoke City stream and it’s working! I KNOW! Everyone thought the system would crash. Instead we’re enjoying the luxury of watching from our armchairs.
3 changes for Stoke from 5-1 Hull win. Out go Joe Allen (injury), Batth & Tommy Smith (benched). Off the bench come Nathan Collins (!) at right back (?), & Ryan Shawcross for Batth. Lasse Sorensen parachutes in to start for Joe Allen. Stephen Ward, McClean & Tymon return as subs for luckless Tom Edwards, who gets dropped from even a 9-man bench! Blimey, he must be gutted. Stoke’s side looks pretty inexperienced. But, of course, the big news is….Charlie Adam is on the Reading bench! They may need his help as Reading have only won ONE game in their last 9 home games.
3.17 With some new facial hair, it’s proving difficult to recognise some of the players. Martins Indi looks all the more terrifying with hair & whiskers. Ince ridiculous, though.
6.10 0-1 !! Reading break down Stoke’s left, with Indi caught flat, and the cross is converted easily by Joao, who beats static Shawcross.
15.24 Ince blows his only chance of the game (no doubt!). No, for once he doesn’t blast it over from distance, he decides to underhit an easier chance straight at the keeper.
26.55 Collins’ throw, Thompson’s pass and Chester’s cockiness result in Jack having to make a full-stretch save. James should have just belted it clear. Didn’t Pulis teach him anything??
29.22 With crosses raining in on Stoke’s box, it’s amazing it’s not 0-3.
41.30 Indi remembering that when you have a throw close to the opposing box, the ball should be thrown backwards towards your own keeper. What a waste.
44.00 Shawcross struggling with his groin. Batth warming up. Another familiar site. Ryan gets back up after treatment, but he’ll probably be pulled at half time. Just like his groin.
HT Reading 1 Stoke 0
45.00 Thank god, Batth on for Ryan, and McClean on for Thompson, although what on earth has James got in his hair? A hair-band? He immediately puts in a low and terrifying cross to scare Reading. The band is scary enough.
54.45 Martins Indi all over the place conceding a dangerous free kick, which results in Reading hitting the bar.
63.25 Campbell does his weekly knock-a-player-over routine. Ref not impressed. They never are.
66.30 CHARLIE ADAM WARMING UP. Stoke may still have a chance. Vokes on for Ince. Thank goodness. Tyrese needs someone to play with. He looks a real billy-no-mates.
70.00 Tyrese gets on the end of a great move hitting the post. Vokes really making a difference, surprisingly.
73.00 Tommy Smith, with wild perm (!), replaces Nathan Collins. At last the side resembles the sort of side I would have started with. Strength.
83.30 As Gregory replaces Indi, Charlie Adam comes on! Here we go. The game comes alive!
90+2 1-1!!!!! Somehow Stoke have equalised!!!! Lasse’s corner from the right is headed back by Vokes, for Powell to dive header in for 1-1!!! Just as everyone was resigned for a Reading win. Charlie will be gutted.
90+4 FT 1-1. Unbelievably, Stoke rob Reading for a point! Shocking!
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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