It’s been five years since these two teams met, and after this game it’ll be less than 10 days until they next meet.
Despite making several changes following on from their 3-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium, Pulis’ side came away from Selhurst Park without making the fatal mistake of seeing a lower league team as easy prey.
Stoke come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Roberto Martinez’s Wigan side at the DW Stadium this afternoon. A penalty from Jonathan Walters (40) and a headed goal from Peter Crouch (79) cancelled out an early Wigan penalty (Maloney, 5) and a Franco di Santo (49) goal.
It means Stoke still remain unbeaten this season in the league, but extends their winless away streak dating back to January 2nd 2012.
Full report to follow.
STOKE CITY were forced to settle for their eighth draw in twelve Barclays Premier League matches following a goalless stalemate with Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium.
A game of few clear cut goalscoring opportunities in front of the Sky Sports cameras saw summer signing Geoff Cameron make an impressive home debut, but Tony Pulis’ side found it difficult breaking down a determined and resilient Gunners outfit.
Full story on the Stoke City FC official website
The Potters kicked off the new Premier League season with a 1-1 draw on Saturday, but it will be opponents Reading who will be most pleased with the result.
The Premier League returnees – absent since 2008 – started the game brightly, and for the first twenty minutes looked the most threatening as they looked to gain a foothold in the game. However, a mistake from ‘keeper Federici gifted a goal to Potters’ debutant Michael Kightly – his poor shot beating the Hungarian ‘keeper at the near post just ten minutes before half time.
Following the break, Stoke continued to dominate possession and the game in a typically tough-tackling but fair midfield battle.
With time ticking by, Pulis made the decision to freshen up the midfield, with Delap replacing Etherington and Jerome taking over from goalscorer Kightly; the substitutions proved to the Potters’ downfall. The replacement of the two wingers – both looking the most likely source of a second killer goal – with a defensive midfielder and striker was a typically Pulis tactical change, looking to hold on to a lead rather than going for the knockout blow.
In the 88th minute, having already picked up a yellow card early in the first half, Dean Whitehead illegally challenged Noel Hunt in the Stoke penalty box; queue a second yellow card and a penalty for Adam Le Fondre to take – and score from.
Despite the result – many Stoke fans seeing it as two points lost, especially given the late substitutions – there were fleeting moments of positivity to take from the game.
Michael Kightly played impressively, showing glimpses of the type of play that would him so many fans last season whilst at Wolves. Meanwhile, Robert Huth’s return to the fold – less than two weeks after being diagnosed with viral meningitis – was also a massive confidence boost for the team, and provided it’s not too soon, could be a great start to a potentially very exciting season.
Stoke City overcame affiliate team Orlando City under the Florida heat last night, as the Potters scored their first win on their US Tour.
A single goal from Jonathan Walters was enough to earn the victory, but the win came with a cost; Euro2012 team-mate Glenn Whelan received a red card, whilst Cameron Jerome and Marc Wilson were both injured in the pre-season friendly.
The win against the Florida club will be a boost for morale for the travelling squad, where rumours are circulating of discontent amongst the players – the amount of travelling involved and the intensity of the training being the focal point of the player’s unhappiness.
It was Thomas Sorensen’s turn to start the match in place of Begovic, and his confidence will have been boosted as he made some superb saves in a tough encounter. Playing on an artificial surface, Sorensen was put under pressure twice early on by poor backpasses, whilst the Chin and Molino partnership up-front for Orlando nearly proved successful on several occasions shortly afterwards.
Despite their best efforts, Orlando fell behind shortly before the half time break; a cross into the box by Marc Wilson was knocked down by Peter Crouch, for Jonathan Walters to volley into the goal – his second goal in the USA, following the 2-1 defeat to Columbus earlier in the week.
In typical pre-season fashion, a raft of changes were made by Pulis at the interval and shortly after – this time, unlike in Columbus, the team balance and harmony wasn’t disrupted quite as much, as the Potters fought to keep former Stoke favourite Adrian Heath’s men at bay.
The Potters now travel to Kansas, before heading back to the UK for friendlies against Torquay United and Yeovil Town.
