Stoke City grab late 2-2 draw with Boro

Stoke grabbed a late draw from the clutches of defeat. But despite City taking an early lead, it was Boro who were most likely to steal all 3 points. Stoke fans were unimpressed with the performance, and most had left before Wright-Phillips secured a point with a low diving header (& subsequent cartwheel). Michael O’Neill will know it’s not good enough, but what’s going wrong? Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:

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Middlesbrough are tipped for promotion (with ex-Sheff Utd miracle man Chris Wilder at the helm), which is more than can be said for Stoke. In comes new boy Tariqe Fosu on the right replacing Sparrow, Clarke, and any other right-wing-back pretender. Back is senior Phil Jagielka, which may tip the balance one way or the other. (It tips the average age of the side from 25 to 34!)

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0.08 Stoke almost get caught out with a pre-planned kick-off move from Boro that Giles almost gets on the end of. Stoke somehow escape with a goal-kick, and can think themselves lucky!

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14.45 As Stoke defend a corner, all but Smallbone (Bill) crowd the 6 yard area! Bill clearly doesn’t like crowds, and prowls the edge of the penalty area.

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18.31 1-0 !!!! Thompson wins the ball on the left (cleanly says the ref!), Gayle breaks down the left, crosses low for Jacob Brown to slot home in the far corner. Keeper, American Zack Steffen, on loan from Citeh, has no chance. Boro players don’t seem to complain about Tommo’s challenge, although one expects to hear more about that later.

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23.40 Gayle tries some theatrical volley from a cross from Bill Smallbone, but it sails wide.

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26.40 McGree tries one of those cool flicks from a cross by Giles, but Bursik sees it a mile away. It still looks like an impressive save.

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35.30 GOOOOAAAAALLLLL….not. Gayle crashes into keeper Yank Steffen, and Jordan’s lob goes in. Ref is having none of it, although the replay shows minimal contact despite Zack looking like he’s been shot dead. (Hm)

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37.33 1-1 !! Very neat equaliser by Duncan Watmore after a crafty cross from his right by Isaiah Jones.

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45+2 HT 1-1

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48.40 McGree blazes wide when it seemed easier to do anything but. It’s followed by Baker being yellowed for a harmless looking challenge, and a lot of Boro pressing…

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Attendance 18,835

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57.37 Marc Bola waltzes into the area, but somehow he also shies wide. Shooting practice required next week.

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62.55 1-2 !!! Looks like an own-goal by Jagielka, although Watmore is claiming it from another cross from the left by Giles. How are Stoke losing this?

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69.10 Campbell on for Smallbone. Kilkenny on for Clucas.

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73.01 Zack Steffen is starting to look busy, busy in the sense of receiving back-passes. I think he’s only had one real shot the whole game! Maybe that’s why Stoke are losing this. Meanwhile at the top of the stand a cold wind blows in. Winter is coming!!

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77.37 Wright-Phillips on for Gayle, and Tom Sparrow on for tiring Fosu.

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88.01 Baker gets on the end of a great move, coming back off Steffen, but inexplicably he fires wide. As the ball curls behind the goal, it looks to many like it went in, but the replay speaks the truth. Somehow there is only 3 minutes time added, despite a lot of time wasting by Boro players, one who immediately gets yellow carded!

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90+1 2-2 !!! Wright-Phillips heads home a low cross from the right from Baker to square the game, and flips a cartwheel to celebrate!! Boro defence panicked under pressure, but both sides now going for the winner.

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90+3 Stoke 2 Boro 2. A fair result…although I’ll struggle to find any partisan to agree with that!