Stoke 0 Wednesday (0) 1 – 9/12/23 3pm
Disaster for Alex Neil as his side slide to their 4th consecutive defeat, this time to the worst team in the league. His future may be in jeopardy, as Stoke fans turn on him. Here’s how this debacle unfolded in real time:
D-day for Stoke, a must-win against woeful Wednesday (9 away games, 8 defeats, 1 draw), worst in all 4 leagues. And to scare all City fans, Jack Bonham is ill, so youngster Tommy Simkins makes his debut in goal!!! Nervous? Oh, you bet. No real strikers for Stoke, Leris and Ryan Mmaee start “up front”. The skies are very grey. Alex Neil MUST WIN THIS…and hopefully for him win well.
8.05 First yellow card as Famewo trips City’s Pearson, although Ben looked like he was toppling before Akin made contact.
9.55 Burger gets a deserved yellow for pulling a player (Well, his shirt). Typical Wouter! Wasteful.
26.30 Simkins looks comfortable. He was 19 yesterday. He is also cup-tied so isn’t available for the Brighton game in 4 weeks. His time at Solihull Moors this season coincided with an excellent run, which ended after his return to Stoke! Hm.
35.08 So little action. This is very much a bottom of the Championship game, 20th vs 24th. Actually, 21st vs 24th, as Stoke have dropped a place (Huddersfield have scored a goal!).
37.02 Goalmouth action as Simkin safely grabs ball after corner. Keeper Cameron Dawson has not had much to do in the Wednesday goal.
43.38 Lovely volley by Laurent from a corner form the left, but wide. best chance yet. Woeful game though.
HT 0-0. Awful. Passionless
Attendance 22347. Really??? Good Sheffield following.
51.07 Byers hits the post startling Simkin.
54.00 Finally Stoke have a shot! City Crowd sing “We’ve had a shot!”
57.20 Worse free kick ever! Junho plays it straight past Gooch for a goal kick! He makes up for it by jinking into the area, & bringing out a save in Cameron…sort of. Stoke have finally woken up. So have the crowd.
61.55 Penalty for Stoke! Laurent pulled down, shirt pull. Soft, but karma.
63.15 Penalty saved!! Mmaee penalty is saved by Dawson diving to his left.
70.00 As City fans appear to knock Alex Neil’s football standards & styles, Hoever replaces Stevens on the left.
78.00 Rose on for Leris & Wesley for Laurent. Deck chairs on the Titanic…
83.50 Junho wins the ball & hurtles into the area, goes down & nothing given. Rightly so, says replay.
85.00 Vidigal on for Mmaee…
89.20 Simkin getting stick for taking time over goal kick from city fans.
91.01 0-1!!!! Breakaway goal by Musaba. Through the centre, defence caught napping.
97.00 FT 0-1. Disaster.
