Stoke (1) 1 QPR 0 – 14/2/24 7.45
Three vital points for Stoke will settle the nerves at the bet365. They beat a tough QPR side by a Wouter Burger first-half goal, and then had to tough it out for the whole of the second half. Somehow City have pulled away from the bottom three (but not by much). Here’s how this win unfolded in real time:
St Valentine’s Day massacre or Stokie love-in?? We will see. 6-pointer – one of these will be bottom-3 tonight (unless Huddersfield lose). It’s huge. It’s scary. 5 changes for City, including Michael Rose at the back.
2.16 Daniel Iversen already having to make a save for Stoke from Paul Smyth. Rangers being given too much respect.
10.30 Junho bursts through and goes down, but nothing given. QPR break & same thing at the other end! But Bae’s foul looked more convincing for a penalty.
18.20 Worst bit of time-wasting that I’ve seen in the first quarter of a game. QPR taking hours over taking a corner, whilst the ref watches on! Bizarre.
30.40 After Niall Ennis is tripped, Hoever takes a quick yet dreadful free kick that flies well into touch. Thankfully it was too quick for the ref who asks him to take it again.
32.08 Rose’s header from a Baker corner from the right is just tipped over by ex-Stoke keeper Begovic. Decent chance.
35.25 Burger put in by Rose and his shot brings out a decent save by Asmir Begovic. Baker’s follow up is sliced wide. Embarrassing.
43.01 Ennis takes an excellent snap shot, but Begovic grabs it. Unexpected.
44.37 1-0 !!! Great corner (from right) headed on by McNally and tapped home by Burger. Great time to score! Time-wasters not so pleased.
45+1 HT City 1 Rangers 0 (although why there wasn’t 5 minutes after the time wasting, I just don’t know).
Attendance 19307
61.30 Junior concedes free kick near corner flag. Thankfully for Stoke, the subsequent free kick is cleared easily. Worrying.
70.08 Lewis Baker goes down after a challenge, looks bad, but he is quickly back on his feet. Curious. The subsequent free kick results in 3 blocked shots for Stoke (the best by Ennis), and a long range drive by Baker that’s smothered by Begovic. City definitely the better of these two sides, but QPR still lively.
74.01 Wesley and Pearson on for Ennis and possibly injured Burger.
78.12 Wesley takes three players out of the game and wins a throw! Who’d have thought?!
80.30 Josh Laurent and Lynden Gooch on for Junho and Junior.
82.09 Wesley slips it to Baker who brilliantly releases Gooch who runs forward before blasting over. Great action.
84.47 Baker blasts over wildly. Ridiculous.
89.25 Mehdi Leris on for Luke Cundle, who has worked hard today.
90.00 EIGHT MINUTES ADDED. Crazy. However, there should have been 2 or 3 more in the first half.
93.01 Begovic comes up to try and score form a corner!!!! He’s scored one goal at this stadium already!!
96.35 Wesley powers forward and wins a corner! He takes ages over the corner and gets roughed up protecting the ball there! He’s a boy!
98.00 Bang on time Pearson takes one for the team but avoids a yellow card as the ref blows full time!!
FT 1-0 Stoke! A much-needed win. Up to…19th.
