Stoke 0 Preston 1 – 2/1/23 3pm
The Potters have surely hit rock bottom after losing to a side who’ve been on an appalling losing streak. And who should score but Ched Evans!! THAT Ched Evans! You couldn’t make it up! Here’s how this game unfolded like a damp paper plane in real time:
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With only 7 home wins out of 23 in 2022, Stoke need to come out of the stocks like a rabid tiger against a Preston side not worthy to play in the same league, losing 4 of their last 5 games (manager Ryan Lowe, beware!). Transfer bonanza is inevitable (which must include selling World Cup star Harry Souttar), particularly as Alex Neil fields an unchanged 11 and subs after losing unconvincingly 0-1 to top side Burnley 3 days ago.
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6.40 Weirdly the ref actually listens to the baying Stoke crowd claiming that Preston’s captain Alan Browne hasn’t put the ball for a corner in the marked segment. Ref Doughty (good name) runs over to check, by which time Browne’s moved the ball. For his second corner, Browne amuses the crowd by placing the ball a foot outside the segment! Funny boy!
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9.10 City’s Jacob Brown starts the new year as he ended the last, being unable to take an opportunity or even put in a shot with any conviction. Tyrese gives away an unnecessary free kick by being unnecessarily aggressive.
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17.55 Stoke fans being incredibly mean to a Preston player (Emil Riis) down with an injury WHLST OFF THE PITCH! He’s not holding up play, so what’s the problem? But after coming back on, Riis goes down for treatment to buy Preston time to bring on a sub. This time Stoke fans give him an easy ride! Oh well.
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33.05 City’s Will Smallbone puts in a low cross, but Brown’s shot (under pressure) is well-wide. Comically, Jacob wants a corner, as if that explains the weak finish. Barely counts as a chance.
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37.45 Harry Souttar yellowed for supposedly elbowing Ched Evans (yes, THAT Ched Evans). Ref does NOT see the humour here, which is such a shame. Free kick takes a deflection off Brown’s head that the ref does not see. Funny.
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40.05 Tymon, Tyrese and Brown slickly combine but still fail to score. Jacob’s finish is weak…again. Icing on cake: it was offside anyway. Suspect that Jake Brown will either score a hat-trick or be subbed pretty soon.
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41.54 Clarke wasting time with the ball over a throw in again. Gets away with it, but it’s almost like Alex Neil has told him to pull this stunt. Weird.
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45+3 Jacob Brown turns another chance into a half-chance with another half-cut finish saved easily by keeper Freddie Woodman.
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HT 0-0
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Attendance 20034! Happy new year! Unlikely numbers.
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48.05 Jacob Brown’s touch in the penalty area not improving. First touch just bounds off harmlessly. Whatever…
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50.05 Former-Stokie Liam Lindsay is having such as easy time in defence for Preston that he decides to clatter former colleague Tyrese and get away with it!
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53.30 City’s Jordan Thompson gets a yellow for an unnecessary challenge, whilst Josh Tymon is moaning at his teammates. Lewis Baker is playing a ball straight into touch, and then trying to shoot from 40 yards! But at least Stoke are still trying.
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64.08 AT LAST! Jacob Brown is replaced by Liam no-track-record-for-being-any-better Delap.
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73.55 Nick Powell on for Tyrese. Great tackling by Souttar shows City defending like they’re 1-0 up…even though they aren’t 1-0 up!
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75.55 Harry Clarke’s appalling tackle from behind only merits a yellow card. He’s a lucky bunny. The replay is grim!
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78.22 Josh Laurent on for ineffectual Lewis Baker. Can’t remember if he’s been subbed by Stoke before. So who is captain for Stoke now?? And does it matter?? Four bookings for Stoke now as Wilmot succumbs too.
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82.55 Stoke’s sub Liam Delap can only side-pass his do-or-die finish in front of goal. Jacob Brown would have been proud.
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83.30 Awesome finger-tipped save by Jack Bonham to thwart North End’s Ben Woodburn. Best moment of the game, strangely.
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90+3 0-1 !!! Ched Evans puts away the goal from a corner on Stoke’s right. Great jubilation from Preston players & fans. Delirium!
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90+7 FT STOKE loose at home again. So much for new years cheer. Hello, 2023.
