Stoke (0) 1 Watford 0 19/8/23 3pm
Stoke go Top-7 after a hard-fought contest. Another cracker from Andre Vidigal. How are Stoke doing it? Well, here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
The players shake hands – with COVID returning, I’m not sure that’s going to last. Meanwhile, cautious Alex Neil plays 3 at the back, adding Luke McNally. The “Beast” (as Neil calls him) Wesley starts for Mmaee, thus finally making his league debut. Ex-Stokie Tom Ince awaits on the Watford bench! Can’t wait. A decent result for either team will indicate how the season will unfold….? Possibly.
7.45 Already Alex Neil is kicking at bottles in his technical area. Vidigal & Wesley not connecting, with Andre playing too wide on the right. Is this pitch bigger or what?
11.30 Wesley is pulled at by Jake Livermore, and shows his contempt for him. Such indignancy in one so BIG.
15.01 Jordan Thompson putting himself around, taking a snap shot one minute then clearing a dangerous attack at the other end. Next up is a super tackle in the middle. He wants his place back permanent. Pearson beware!
22.12 Vidigal finally does what he does best, breaking down the left, cutting inside and bringing out a save in Bachman…then seconds later, his shot is rewarded by a corner. McNally even has a shot, showing some skill.
24.30 Wesley doing what the fans want him to do: kick a defender out the way & belt the ball in the net. Sadly the ref sees it differently.
28.25 Yellow for McNally, a tackle from behind. He’s ahead of Ben Pearson already!
32.40 Alex Neil is so far over, he looks like he’s managing Watford! He throws down a water bottle, and the 4th official wants a word. As it’s in Glaswegian, Keith Stroud has no idea what the word is.
45+3 HT 0-0
46.40 Watford’s first chance, a header over the bar. Followed by a second, blasted way over the bar by Asprilla. Then a shot requiring a full-length save by Mark Travers. Watford have definitely started brighter. Maybe Alex Neil was right to be cautious…?
Attendance 21,180.
52.30 1-0 !!!! Vidigal collects in the area, and half-volleys home with a rocket!!! Class!!! Long cross from Hoever that evaded Wesley, but flipped up by Andre, who then hit it past diving keeper ex-Stokie Daniel Bachman.
69.15 Josh Tymon on for Michael Rose, surely a switch to a back-4. Meanwhile, Thompson has another shot on goal.
70.01 Tom Ince comes on for Watford. Oh dear.
73.15 Amazing save by Travers from Asprilla. He only had a split second to see that.
75.30 Thompson taking one for the team, yellowed in the centre circle.
77.55 Almost a penalty shout for Watford, but the ref waves it away. Replay makes it look fairly feeble.
80.01 Mmaee, Chiquinho and Pearson on for Vidigal, Wesley and Thompson.
82.30 Tom Ince fumbles for Watford, whilst Chiquinho wins a throw against the odds. Daniel Johnson picks up a yellow in a battle of the dreadlock-ponytails in midfield.
88.15 Mmaee breaks, but his shot is deflected just wide. A Pearson shot from the corner gains a handball and free kick, which hits the top of the wall.
90+5 FT Stoke pushing for a 2nd, but settle for 1-0.
