Stoke (3) 4 Rotherham (0) 1 – 5/8/23 3pm
Scorching goals by Hoever & Vidigal smashed Rotherham in a cracking opening game that leaves City 2nd already! Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
We’re back! The season starts! And City’s starting 11 has 8 of the new players, with 6 brand new players (including Vidigal (left-forward), Rose & Steven’s (defenders), Travers (keeper) and DJ Johnson (midfield). Pearson & Hoever return, although Ben has signed permanently. Josh Laurent is deservedly now club captain. It’s going to be a long season. Here we go!
0.12 A foul in 13 seconds on Jacob Brown, who goes down hugging his shins. Vidigal blasts the kick straight into the wall, who looked suitably terrified. That’s how it’s going to be today: physical.
4.35 1-0!!!! It’s a classic!! Hoever volley hits the top of the net and the crowd GO MAD!! A CROSS FROM CAPT LAURENT. HOW DO YOU TURN OFF CAPAITALS!! A brilliant Finnish!! Now auto-correct has gone berserk too!! WHAT A START!
22.10 Alex Neil acting as a ball-boy, flipping the ball straight into Hoever’s arms.
23.30 After Brown fails to exploit a set piece, frustrated Neil recreates on the sideline what he should have done. Meanwhile 2 United players get yellowed, as Vidigal gets tripped whilst showing some of his skills.
30.05 Ridiculous! Jacob Brown is yellowed when the replay suggests it wasn’t even a foul!! What is going on?? He slipped between two players, and was through on goal. Crazy. Maybe the ref felt he carried on playing after the ball had gone, but still!
43.30 Mark Travers finally has a save to make, and he makes it look good.
45.00 SEVEN minutes of time added! That’s the new rules for you.
45 + 1 CONTROVERY!!! Johnson puts through Brown who is chopped down by Capt Sean Morrison…but the ref only gives a yellow!! Replay says red!!
45 + 2 (47.35) 2-0 !!! From the subsequent Johnson free kick, Wilmot heads across from the left, and Vidigal slots home. Brilliant again.
45 + 5 Almost 3-0 with Mmaee unable to connect cleanly.
45+7 3-0 !!!! Vidigal scores off the post after Brown’s attempt saved!!
45+9 HT 3-0!! What a half!
46.05 3-1 !! United score from a corner from the right. Sub Lee Peltier taps home after a header from Blackett. Lee has only been on for ONE minute!
Attendance 22,601 (my guess was 23,000, so fair enough!)
59.45 After Wilmot is caught on the ball, Cafu blasts the ball over, where a steward controls the ball so well that a policeman applauds him!!
68.10 RED CARD !! Cafu gets a second yellow for a sliding tackle on Mmaee. Slightly harsh, but United should be down to 10 men anyway after Morrison was spared just before half time. At least we won’t have to tolerate Cafu’s shooting anymore.
73.55 As DJ Johnson gets yellow, Chiquinho replaces Mmaee.
78.30 Thompson on for Pearson.
54.51 Vidigal thwarted for a hat-trick! A great header is finger-tipped saved by Viktor Johansson. Viktor then saves another from a Thompson deflected shot.
87.40 Yellow for Laurent for a badly timed slide tackle. Stoke looking for their 4th, but still tough at the back.
89.42 4-1 Jacob Brown slots home on the left after a corner form the right is headed on
90+1 Wesley on for Vidigal. Huge ovation for both. Sidibe on for Johnson.
FT 4-1!
