Stoke outgunned by Coventry City in 0-2 defeat

The Potters were overrun in the second half by a more determined (or was that “desperate”?!) Coventry side. Everything the away fans sang seemed to be true: it was a library, City must be poor for Coventry to be winning away, and there must have been a fire drill as there were hardly any Stoke fans left at the end. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:

So, a run of decent performances by Stoke, but after Tuesday’s Rotherham defeat can Alex Neil’s side put some decent points on the board and launch The Potters towards the playoffs? Well, against stingy Coventry, I wouldn’t bank on it, mush. But Smallbone is back (shunting Delap to impact-sub position on the bench), so we’ll see if he really is the bees-knees. Jagielka looks almost normal without a head bandage and blood trickling down his face. Good to see him too. And without the blood.

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4.12 Bursik almost gives away the back pass from Fox trying to be too casual with a flick to Wilmot that was never going to arrive. Thankfully Ben races back to save the day. Bursik goes as pink as his jersey. And that’s VERY pink.

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9.50 Benny saves the day again, this time from rampant Kasey Palmer, he of No.45 jersey. 45?? Ben is the star so far, although Fosu on the left is after a galactic medal too.

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16.55 Jagielka’s near-post glancing header (see pic) hits the top of the bar (from a Baker corner from the left). The bandages are clearly off.

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20.32 Baker curls a low shot from distance past the post. Smallbone clearly giving Lewis more space to play. And shoot.

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25.05 Fosu having a go from distance now, but just wide.

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31.24 Fosu AGAIN! Just wide the other side. It’s a real tussle between him and Ben for man-of-the-match. But wait, even Morgan Fox wants in on this game!

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HT City 0 City 0

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45.00 Harry Clarke on for Dujon Sterling on the right.

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Attendance 22,453, with healthy away support, almost full away end, and ALL standing.

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50.22 0-1 !! Stoke defence dozes off, sending Jamie Allen through the middle to easily beat Bursik, despite last second heavy tackle by Clarke from behind, which would probably have resulted in a penalty had Allen missed.

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53.01 Coventry fans observe that Stoke fans aren’t singing anymore, yet they weren’t singing before anyway. Tyrese finally gets a shot on target, but it’s tamely at the keeper.

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56.50 Here comes the cavalry as Jacob Brown and Nick Powell replace Tyrese Campbell and Dwight Gayle.

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58.07 Nick Powell gets shoved on to the floor in less than 2 minutes!! He must have a target on his back. Game becoming more physical, and more time-dependant (ie some time-wasting going on).

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63.57 0-2 ! Just as Stoke were about to concede a penalty (again), Gustavo Hamer scores from a tight angle. Stoke in real trouble, and need to turn things around. Quickly.

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69.15 “How **** must you be, we’re winning away” merrily chant the away supporters, and they do have a point. Liam Delap ready to come on for…? Fox? No, Smallbone. Stoke now playing a sort of 3-3-2-2.

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74.58 Alex Neil kicks a bottle in frustration.

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75.35 Clarke is scythed down…yet the ref gives it the other way! Weird.

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84.07 Disheartened fans leaving in droves. “Is there a fire drill?” ask the away supporters. No, we’re losing, so why wait in the typical traffic jam? None.

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90.00 As Coventry almost make it 3, the ground is now quite empty…except for the very noisy away supporters.

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Game ends to only one set of supporters. City 0 City 2.