Stoke 0 Ipswich 0 – 1/1/24 3pm
A bizarre red card for Jordan Thompson meant this became a heroic point for Stoke. Ipswich didn’t look much like promotion possibles, but that was mainly due to City’s battling. Here’s how this game unfolded in real time:
Lot of hope building in the Stoke crowd now Steven Schumacher is aboard. A win and 2 draws, fans are wondering if they can stop the dread before tough games like this, against high-flying Ipswich, just promoted, 2nd place, but on a ropey run. Lewis Baker starts, but Burger grabs the captaincy. Hoever in for Haksabanovic & Pearson! Junior Tchamadeu’s last game before his Africa Cup exeat with Cameroon – he’ll be a big loss.
4.25 Baker tries his normal style of shot from the edge of the area, and it brings out a save in keeper Vaclav Hladky.
5.50 Burger going for the dramatic overhead kick, but gains a corner.
6.15 Jordan Thompson booked for a high challenge, although the Ipswich player milked it and the replay pours doubt on the yellow card.
9.15 Baker gives away the ball, which is concerning. Ipswich players claiming everything. Ref must be doubting his sanity with this lot!
14.30 Thompson & Burger play “after-you” before Jordan has to stab the ball to Burger. Stoke push, and Mmaee brings out a save in Hladky. Great work by Vidigal to win back the ball for Ryan.
17.15 Snafu as Lewis Baker is given time to shoot as part of a planned corner move, and (typically) it goes way over the bar.
18.48 Keeper Hladky blasts an easy ball straight into touch. laughable. Supporters on his back, with Stoke fans ribbing him mercilessly. However, it’s followed by Baker giving the ball away again! He’s a liability.
23.50 McNally pulling the same stunt on Ipswich, going down from a challenge looking like he’d been assassinated and gaining a free kick. He’s fine, of course.
30.01 Ref James Bell has to retire with a muscle pull and swaps with 4th official Tom Bramall. Crowd launch into “You’re not fit to referee!” Harsh. But fair.
32.01 McNally intercepts a great ball and it bounces off him to Bonham. However, chancer Kayden Jackson claims it’s a back pass. The new ref gives him such a look of disinterest!
33.15 Ex-Vale Sam Morsy gets a yellow card, and Stoke fans rub their hands in glee. He’s now suspended.
42.20 Some great tackling from McNally.
43.35 Ipswich gets free kick, take it quickly, lose it, then the ref, who approved the early take, stops play as an Ipswich player was still down. Schumacher not pleased, Thompson should worry as he committed foul, and he’s on final warning after his earlier yellow.
45.40 Baker at last puts in decent shot for keeper to save!
HT City 0 Town 0. 0-0.
Attendance 23,121, mainly due to 2500 in the sold out away end.
51.30 Great save by Jack Bonham from Wes Burns after a decent snap move by Ipswich. Then Thompson has to come back and clear the lines.
55.01 Stoke break down the left and Junho puts in a cracking cross but no one can finish it off. Baker does the same seconds later. Stoke fighting their way back in to this half after Ipswich start the more brightly.
58.14 Burger charges through and scores but he’s offside! Replay concurs. Just. Rattled Ipswich have an injury to deal with.
62.10 Ipswich sub takes some time, which makes it look like Town are happy with a draw…but…
64.20 Junho showing some skill, beating off 3 players and winning a corner.
66.40 RED CAR for a 2nd yellow to Thompson. He was fouled, fell on the ball, handling it, got the free kick, and then said or did something to get a 2nd yellow. It was coming. He had been on final warning for a long time. He should have been subbed.
72.30 Baker chopped in the centre circle, but ref plays advantage and then fails to take action for the Baker challenge.
73.40 Ben Wilmot comes on for Vidigal. The return of Ben.
80.01 Gayle on for Mmaee and Dan Johnson on for Junho.
86.03 Gayle has a half-chance but there was little chance of him putting it away. Floated ball that he waves his foot at! A good chance when you only have 10 men!
88.35 Ex-Stoke Harry Clarke is yellowed for a desperate lunge at DJ Johnson.
FT 0-0. A decent point for Stoke.
