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Stoke City 1 Newcastle United 2 report by Jacko
Zeigler, Marcelino, (Beharal 62) ......Hughes, ....................... Barton, Hamilton,(Gullit 37) ...... McClen, .....Dumas,(Kerr 45)............. Serrant, Solano,(Robinson 62) ....................... Maric Shearer, The Britannia Stadium, breeze block capital of North Stafforshire, is a mere one and a half miles from my house so this is the first game for a million years that I've been able to walk to. It was a beautiful July evening on the outside but the inside of this den of sin is the coldest place on earth - yes men, it's even colder than Oldham. We sat in front of the press box and two local reporters of our acquaintance commented on how tropical the weather was as they only need one layer of thermal underwear. This is what happens when you build a stadium high up in the clouds on a lunar landscape and leave three corners open. I suspect the architects expected a bit of heat to filter through from the nearby council incinerator - where all the rubbish from the city is dumped - how appropriate. I chose to sit in the upper tier of the main (McEwans) stand. Sadly my seat was next to that of one of the Potteries intelligentsia. He had the IQ of an intellectually challenged amoeba and demonstrated as much throughout the proceedings. His first comment after five minutes set the tone. "You're showing them too much respect City - kick 'em, kick 'em." For reasons best known to himself he had a real downer on the lovely Warren Barton - perhaps tortured memories of same running 'em ragged in theCoca-Cola cup a few years ago. He seemed upset that Griffin wasn't playing - I wondered about informing him of the injury situation but thought I might get a fist in me gob for me troubles so kept silent. Anyway - to the match. The opening quarter was very disjointed with Stoke having slightly the better of it - although thankfully their strikers couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo. Young Connor looked particularly nippy but his finishing wasn't up to standard. Toon's best opening came after 19 minutes when a great run and cross by Big Al down the right saw the ball fall to Barton who nearly killed Phil Robinson with his shot which the full back took smack in the face.
Maric continues to puzzle me. He showed immense talent against Toon but we are seeing only rare flashes of it at the moment. Marcelino did not dominate the box enough but his groundwork was good. I'd be inclined not to sign Ziegler. The sad thing is, I've seen the games at Reading, Celtic and tonight - the best performance in any was undoubtedly Ruud's at Reading. But don't worry lads and lasses - It'll aal faal inte place soon! ....... Jacko
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Things
brightened up on 37 minutes when Gullit replaced Hamilton. Des felt
the need to limp as he came off but no one was fooled. Within three
minutes of this tactically astute change (!) Dumas had scored the
opener with a tremendous left footed drive from 25 yards. Again Big
Al had been involved with a right wing burst. Sadly the lead was short-lived
as Stoke equalised just before half-time. Some utterly crap
defending was responsible. They got a free kick on the left corner of
the penalty box. The ball was chipped to the far post where TWO
Stokies stood totally unmarked. One of them headed it back across the
goal for trialist Jacobson to burst in and head into the net. A goal
of this nature had been coming for some time because in spite of the
height of Marcelino and Hughes, Toon had looked very dodgy from cross
balls. Ziegler's tendency to flap rather than catch wasn't helping.
The
second half saw Kerr start in place of Dumas. We should have scored
after about five minutes when McGlen missed a great chance created by
Nolberto by chipping tamely into the keeper's arms. At the other end,
Ziegler rose in my estimation when he made a miraculous save from
Connor who again had a totally free header from about 3 yards out.
The arrival of young Robinson had a galvanising effect and Mr Jacko
had just said to his mate "I won't be surprised if he
scores" when he did just that! Why can't the daft sod predict
the lottery so well! He showed great skill on the ball (Robinson, not
Mr Jacko) before turning to shoot in from the edge of the box. Maric
missed a good chance and Big Al nearly scored with a exquisite chip
but Ward just got his finger tips to it. Toon's attitude throughout
seemed to be that they were simply fulfilling a fixture. That they
managed to win whilst doing so is to their credit but it was a far
from sparkling performance. Young Robinson continues to impress and
Big Al can only benefit from the match practice. 
