Stoke (1) 1 Bristol City (0) 2 – 7/4/23 3pm
Somehow Stoke grasped defeat from the jaws of victory. Bristol even go above The Potters instead of Stoke going top-half. This should have been wrapped up, but those substitutions on the 70th minute… Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
Five excellent performances, 3 wins & 2 draws, and on the cusp of getting back into the top-half of the Championship. What could possibly go wrong?! Well, as all viewers of the new series of Ted Lasso (particularly this week’s new episode!) will tell you, this could go off in all directions. Bristol have only one win in 5, and their following reflects that. Weak.
2.06 Phil Jagielka thinks he’s a right winger! You’re Captain, Phil, not George Best! The rest of the team are slipping around on a well-watered pitch. Alex Neil wondering if they’re wearing the right studs or just slippers!
11.15 Stoke get their 3rd corner (Smallbone), and Bristol in their poor man’s Norwich strip look rattled.
12.45 Clash of the Bens!! Wilmot climbs over Pearson to head clear. Crumpled Ben gets up and says “Good job.”
21.35 Benny Pearson slips as he challenges nippy Sam Bell, and ordinarily it would be a foul, but as everyone is slipping around like this is Dancing On Ice, the ref gives nothing. Bristol fans go berserk, and start instead to complain about the Stoke fans being of poor calibre, only for Stoke to attack, and the volume to shoot up to drown them out!
24.58 Nahki Wells beats the offside trap, but somehow just puts the ball wide. What sorcery is this! Should be 0-1. Jagielka outsmarted, but by jingo he can sprint back fast for a 40 year old!
35.55 1-0!!!! Long ball by Wilmot to Campbell on the left, whose low cross is converted beautifully by Nick centre-forward-me Powell!!
41.12 Hoever abuses the goal post! after mid-hitting a Laurent cross wide.
HT City 1 City 0
53.41 An excellent goal by Bristol is ruled out due to offside. Lucky Stoke
54.36 Rocket from Tyrese is beaten away by keeper Max O’Leary (who sounds like a game show host, and his rainbow allsorts shirt backs this up!)
61.20 Wilmot slices the ball just past his own goal. Another lucky break. Stoke looking a little ropey at the back.
63.20 Jacob Brown beats down a clearance, but lands awkwardly jumping over the encroaching keeper. The game goes on with the baying Stoke crowd wanting…something!
67.55 Bersant Celina comes on for Powell.
Attendance 22,826. A large expectant crowd.
71.20 Lewis Baker and Morgan Fox replace Hoever and Smallbone. Sterling switches to the right…
71.54 1-1 ! All those substitutions result in Zak Wyner heading home an equaliser.
84.40 1-2 !! Pearson caught out in midfield, and the cross is finished beautifully by Mehmeti past Bonham. That away end is a lot happier now. Stoke fans leaving in droves.
86.00 Tymon on for Jagielka. These substitutions have cost Stoke dear.
FT City 1 City 2
