Preston (0) 1 Stoke (0) 2 – 9/3/24 3pm
A hard fought win for Stoke takes them out of relegation for now. Returning Luke McNally stabbed the winner off the post late on, but Owen Goll (OG) is still one of Stoke’s leading scorers. Here’s how this game unfolded in real time:
I distinctly remember asking Steven Schumacher about his 2 new signings Ennis & Million at the press conference, and so naturally the 2 changes he makes for the Preston game is to drop those two!! Oh well. Coming in is McNally back from injury to form a back 3 with Rose and Wilmot, and that not-many-goals striker Tyrese Campbell. Mind you nobody in the starting line up has scored more than 2 goals in the league this whole season!!! Grief!
0.00 Interesting to note when the Stoke side take the knee before kickoff, Stoke fans cheer and applaud…almost like they support it!!!
6.25 After Laurent and even Campbell actually string some decent passes together, Hoever’s wooden touch lets him down. He does at least win a corner. Chance missed for Stoke.
11.30 Gooch held from behind but the ref somehow fails to notice!! Thankfully Preston’s break comes to nothing. Grabbing Gooch like that looked more than spiritual!. Gross!
13.30 Gooch tripped by Preston Capt Alan Browne. This time it’s right in front of the ref, so he has no excuses.
18.12 Calls for a penalty as Wilmott nudges flying Riis as he hurtles into the area. Ref fairly lenient, although 2 mins later Burger gets pushed over off the ball (as so typical with him) and they share a yellow card. Wouter needs a better chat up line!
23.25 Campbell actually draws the keeper Freddie Woodman out of goal, but can only win a throw in.
26.02 Preston are one trick ponies, going down their left side relentlessly mainly with Liam Miller who is causing Hoever all sorts of problems.
37.02 Wow! A shot on target by Stoke, by Junho, which barely brought out a save in keeper Freddie. Toothless.
41.12 Campbell runs half the pitch to put in a lame shot for keeper Freddie to gather. Really toothless. But at least they’re shooting.
HT 0-0 No surprises there!
52.35 Preston players falling over themselves to fall over in the box, but the ref finally gives Stoke a free kick when Junho is felled.
54.01 This time it’s Capt Browne’s turn to fall over in the box. Hilarious. Ref non-plussed.
55.30 Gooch latches on to a mis-timed pass, bursts into the area, and brings out a save in keeper Freddie. Excitement at last!
56.24 Rose misses a sitter (a header) from the subsequent corner! Costly. Both sides more lively in the 2nd half.
63.20 1-0 !! Preston fooled by a cross from the left, and Preston’s Andrew Hughes concedes under pressure from Laurent into an empty goal!!
67.45 1-1 !!! Preston’s Osmajic heads home from a Frokjaer cross from the left. Easy. too easy.
73.50 Campbell does his regular boot the ball way over the bar manoeuvre.
74.30 Million Manhoef on for Burger.
82.30 After Million loses the ball, Ben Whiteman runs the length of the pitch to be tackled skillfully by Wilmot. Ben’s injured in the process.
83.30 Niall Ennis on for Campbell gets an enthusiastic cheer from Stoke fans. Not sure they supported the inclusion of Tyrese today…
86.12 2-1 !!! From a Lewis free kick, Wilmot heads into the danger area, and it’s stabbed in off the post by McNally. Stoke out of the relegation area!! For now.
88.20 Leris on for Junho.
90.00 6 minutes added from somewhere!!
91.54 Fabulous passing is messed up by final touch by Ennis!! Ball dribbles to keeper Freddie.
96.00 FT Preston 1 Stoke 2!!
