Match Reports

2nd Div Play Off Final, Cardiff 11 May 2002: Brentford 0 Stoke City 2

COOL POTTERS SWAT BEES AND JINX TO LEAVE FANS BUZZING by AndyP

It has been a long hard season, extended further with Stoke’s play-off campaign, but finally the Stoke hoards have something to smile about. It might not have been the route that most had hoped for back in August, but the result is certainly the outcome they desired. Gudjon Thordarson made it third time lucky in the play-offs and ended the infamous “South Dressing Room Jinx” into the bargain.

A Saturday start of 4:20am is never my idea of fun but to make the 5am start time in Leeds it was a challenge I had to rise to. Fellow Leeds Stokie, Dr Groove, and I were picked up by my Bradford City supporting colleague, Super Pickles, our driver for the day. I was hoping he was going to be a lucky omen as Bradford City are the only other team to overturn a play-off semi-final deficit away from home to make the final. (They then went on to beat Notts County 2-0 to win promotion to the First Division). Super Pickles was also our driver for the 2-1 Wembley win over Bristol City in 2000!

Thanks to the early start and Super Pickles’ ability to drive 4 hours without a stop, we rolled into a sunny Cardiff city centre at around 9am, and parked up near the castle. There were already a few Stokies and Bees milling around, but thankfully no sign of the Cardiff hooligan element. With so much time to kill we headed off into the Castle, wandering in the grounds, and ambling around the 2 military museums. The highlight of these exhibits was Dewi the goat, the Welsh Regiment’s mascot, stuffed and preserved for posterity. In happier times he was pictured munching on a gigantic leek offered by a fierce looking squadie. I made do with munching oatcakes in the castle grounds.

When we left the castle around 11:30am, the city streets had been closed to traffic and it was swarming with red and white stripes. As we loitered by a pie-shop enjoying good business from the Stoke legions, the team bus made its final approach to the stadium and passed us. The lads on board looked distinctly nervous, and not one returned the waves or the smiles of the cheering Stoke fans. No doubt they were reflecting on the enormity of the task ahead and what it would mean if they did not succeed.

We ambled around the streets, and ran into some of Dr Groove’s friends outside a pub that was full of Stoke fans. It was a good place to stand for celebrity spotting as former Wales manager Bobby Gould, and Stoke legend Terry Conroy wandered past. It was also a good place to kill time before the short walk to the stadium. Dr G was keeping everyone amused with his rash prediction that Stoke would win 4-1!

The stadium is a magnificent arena. We were at the back of the lower tier, which was a pretty good view, apart from being under the overhang of the middle tier above restricted the view of the stands on the other side of the pitch. Dr G and I had a walk to the front and the sight was incredible – 3 tiers full of Stokies sweeping around the ground. The atmosphere and noise was incredible when the 2 teams came out. I saw on the stadium TVs the team in the tunnel as they came out, and the expressions on their faces looked a lot more cool and composed than on the team bus. A strange calm came over me, and I had a feeling that we were going to do it.

Brentford started brightly and had the best of the opening exchanges and got behind the Stoke defence a couple of time early on. But after 7 minutes Stoke started to get their passing game going and become the more dominant team in midfield. Their first real chance led to the opening goal on 16 minutes. A corner was swung in from the right and flicked on by Big Chris Iwelumo at the near post. It fell slightly behind Deon Burton at the far post, but he controlled it well before spinning round to fire in a shot which squirmed under the keeper and just eluded a desperate goal-line lunge from the defender. It looked messy from where we were sitting, and we only knew it had gone in as Burton wheeled away in delight and the Stoke fans erupted.

Stoke controlled a large part of the first half not allowing Brentford to settle, but the Bees were coming back into it when Stoke got the killer second on 44 minutes. Stoke were awarded a free-kick just outside the area on the left. Bjarni Gudjonsson fired in a low fierce cross into the box, and Brentford’s Burgess stuck out a foot to kindly deflect it into the net as the keeper went the opposite way. It was a dangerous cross, difficult to defend, and the replay suggests Iwelumo may have been able to tuck it away if Burgess had not obliged. Again a slight pause as we realised the ball was in the net, then pandemonium broke out! A lucky goal but we are well overdue some of that! In first half stoppage time Stoke nearly added a third when a stinging shot from Dinning hit the unsighted keeper and looped over the bar when it could have just as easily gone in.

The halftime break was a fairly enjoyable one for the Stokies, as they knew it would take a vintage Stoke balls-up to throw this one away. Thankfully the team had shown very little to suggest mistakes were going to be likely. Many of the Stokies congregated outside the stand on the sunny concourse overlooking the River Taff, mobiles in force to send word of the display to those left in the Potteries.

Stoke started the second half brightly and had 2 opportunities in the first 5 minutes to add a killer third. Both Iwelumo and Gunnlaugsson were guilty of dwelling to long in good positions when a snap shot would surely have proved deadly at such close range. After that Brentford began to take control of the match as Stoke sat back happy to defend the lead and hit on the break. It got increasingly desperate as the game wore on and I was certain Brentford would pull something back. Only some fine last ditch defending, 2 Cutler saves, and some poor finishing kept us in the driving seat. On the break Stoke were caught offside too often to cause Brentford any real difficulties. The half passed quite quickly considering it was backs to the wall for much off it. Some tactical substitutions helped bolster midfield and give the defence a breather. “These won’t score if they play all day” were the wise words of the Bradford neutral, and so it proved as Stoke held on to win. A better ball in the dying seconds would have presented Burton an easy chance to add a third to really rub salt into the wounds. Brentford and their massively outnumbered 7000 fans didn’t deserve that cruel twist, but they didn’t deserve to win the game either. It was the Potters who were jubilant at the end, and Brentford left to reflect on missing out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season.

There were tremendous scenes at the end with the team and management dancing around with the cup in front of the 34,000 Stokies. My favourite moment was two of the players wandering around with a banner that read “Unlucky dressing room my arse”! Eleven teams before them had occupied that South dressing room and lost, but Stoke wrote themselves into pub quiz history by being the first to break the “curse”.

We streamed from the exits at the end into the bright sunlight, and hopefully a bright future in the higher divisions. It felt like Cardiff was ours as there were few locals to be seen as we marched down the main shopping streets, and certainly no Cardiff City fans fancying a skirmish. We were at the car in 10 minutes and on the M4 15 minutes later, mingling with dejected Bees on the motorway. We were back in Leeds at 9pm, and in the pub 30 minutes later for a pint or two. The whole day seemed like a dream. Back at the flat I watched the build-up and relived the first half on video before staggering off to bed. I don’t think it was a classic but it’s the result that counts. Goodbye Port Vale, goodbye Crewe, hello to Wolves, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday. We are going up!

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (8) Didn’t have much to do in the first half, but made two superb stops in the second. Commanded area well.

RB Thomas (8) Excellent in defence, and stormed up the wing a few times to trouble the Brentford left back.

LB Clarke (7) Defended well but his distribution was disappointing at times. A few needless fouls, and didn’t get up as much as usual.

CB Shtaniuk (9) Brilliant stuff from “Shtanner”. A rock at the back quelling the threat of 22 goals Owusu. One memorable tackle in the box was Bobby Moore against Brazil all over again!

CB Handyside (10) The captain didn’t put a foot wrong and marshalled his defence well all game. He and Shtaniuk were immense and the reason we survived the Brentford pressure. (STAR MAN)

RM Gudjonsson (8) Bjarni played well, passed well and tackled back which is not usually his forte. His fierce free-kick brought about the second goal.

CM O’Connor (8) A tigerish display from “Super James” chasing everything that moved, and produced some slick passes.

CM Dinning (7) Probably the best I’ve seen him play for Stoke, solid in midfield, and unlucky with one fierce drive

LM Gunnlaugsson (8) Shone in his floating role. Some nice touches and runs, held on to the ball well despite harsh Brentford challenges. Provided the cross for the opening goal.

CF Burton (8) His pace troubled Brentford, and he supplied some nice touches too. With better delivery from his colleagues he might have had a hat trick. Took the first goal well.

CF Iwelumo (6) Fought well up front but never received the crosses he thrives on to cause Brentford trouble. Hesitated a couple of times in a good position. Maybe carrying a knock as he went off early in the second half?

SUBS

Cooke (7) Battled well up front and provided an outlet to pass the ball too instead of knocking it long. Hard working as usual but sometimes over competitive and guilty of fouls or straying offside when patience might have brought reward.

Van Deurzen (7) Came on for Gunnlaugsson to switch it to 4-4-2 and shore the midfield. Battled away at the closing stages to help keep the clean sheet.

Brightwell (7) Replaced the tiring Dinning late on and became an extra defender to quell the Brentford waves of attacks at the end.

What a relief. What a day. Cardiff is a beautiful city, and the stadium is mightily impressive even in the cheap seats! Puts Wembley to shame. Brilliant acoustics made for belting renditions of "Delilah". A great day out which will be remembered for a long time. Good job we won though!

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