Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

09 Nov 2002: Stoke City 1 Grimsby Town 2 Att: 11,488

GOAL-SHY POTTERS LEFT TRAWLING THE DEPTHS OF DISPAIR BY GRIMSBY by AndyP

I was looking forward to this game with almost a morbid anticipation. While not entirely delighted by Tony Pulis' appointment, I was looking forward to seeing the Potters again, and anxious to see if the new manager could change the fortunes of a side in free-fall. There has been much talk of Pulis being partial to the long ball game, so I didn't really know what to expect from this match. I was hoping that he might have tightened up our defence and instilled enough passion to produce a win over a Grimsby side that looked realistically beatable on paper. In the end we created enough chances to give Grimsby a good battering and win by a large scoreline. Instead two silly goals gifted to the visitors, and hopeless finishing, meant it was they who left with the three points, leaving Stoke in the bottom three of the table after a SIXTH straight defeat.

As we watched the players warm up before the game we reckoned there would be a few changes. While Thomas and Clarke were spared the chop called for by many supporters (myself included), Greenacre finally started a game for Stoke after a long injury, and Hoekstra was fit enough again to join him. Pulis opted for Mooney upfront with Greenacre, and the formation was 4-4-2 to utilise Gudjonsson and Hoekstra on the flanks. This meant Neal being relegated to the bench after two decent displays, and he was joined by Iwelumo, Cooke, Henry, and goalkeeper Viander. What did disappointment me was that after the toss Stoke were "turned round" and made to attack the boothen End in the first half. This should make no difference of course, but I can't remember ever see us win a game when this has happened!

Both sides started brightly, and to be fair there was no immediate evidence of hoofing the ball long. In fact Stoke's build up was patient and their passes found Stoke players for a change. After two minutes a clipped ball by Clarke pushing forward found Mooney well, and he chested the ball into the path of Greenacre to try a 25 yard shot that whistled wide. But a minute later Stoke fans were sighing with relief as a ball slipped through left our offside claims and defence in tatters, thankfully the striker running on was beaten to the ball by a sliding Cutler at the edge of his area. On five minutes a Grimsby free-kick on the left side some 35 yards out, was headed well clear by Thomas in the box. He was involved again 2 minutes later when he was out of position allowing a Grimsby forward to run in and get in a 10 yard shot. The effort was blocked by Cutler, and Thomas got back well to hack clear.

On 8 minutes we saw the first of many fine crosses from Hoekstra. He was fed by a good diagonal ball from Gunnarsson and he raced to the byline before putting a cross to the far post which was claimed well by the keeper just as Mooney looked to head home from close range. On 11 minutes the Dutchman was creating havoc again. A great run and pass from Gudjonsson released Hoekstra on the left, and his cross from the byline was poked wide from 6 yards by an onrushing Greenacre. Stoke's early good work was undone by a moment of madness at the back on 14 minutes. A Stoke move broke down with Shtaniuk pushing forward, and with the defence looking for offside the ball was chipped by Oster into the huge space on the left to Livingstone. Cutler came out to meet him, fatally hesitated, retreated and was caught in no-mans-land as the forward chipped him sweetly from 15 yards and the ball fell into the far corner of the net. If he'd charged out at the striker, the narrow angle might have been sufficient for Cutler to force a block. Stoke didn't really deserve to be a goal down, but once again paid for calamitous happenings in defence.

The Stoke lads kept their heads up and roared back at Grimsby looking for an instant reply. On 16 minutes Clarke knocked a long clearance that Greenacre was able to nod on, and Mooney could only loft the ball over from 12 yards, stretching desperately to get his effort away. A minute later a brilliant cross from Gudjonsson on the right picked out Mooney 6 yards from goal, but his tight angled effort went across the box and out for a goalkick. Stoke nearly shot themselves in the foot again on 18 minutes. A good move led to a Stoke corner, but it was taken short, intercepted and Grimsby broke finding themselves 3 versus 2. Luckily they failed to capitalise, shooting wide. At the other end on 20 minutes Stoke had a glorious chance to get a deserved equaliser. Clarke got forward and put in a fine cross from the byline and Greenacre glanced his header wide from 4 yards, when it looked easier to score. As it went across the box, Mooney still had chance to slide in and convert, but he seemed amazed at the miss and reacted too late!

We paid for that miss a minute later. Shtaniuk gave away a needless free-kick at the edge of our box when he could have stood tall and shepherded the man away from the danger area. While the wall was organising themselves (and I was writing in my notebook) Campbell took the free-kick quickly and it went low and hard into the corner with Cutler watching in amazement. The ref didn't appear to have blown his whistle for it to be taken but he let the goal stand, and Stoke were 2-0 down to a very ordinary side. Once again Stoke dug deep and a Gudjonsson cross came in but no one got on the end of it. On 29 minutes Hoekstra went in the book for a late tackle some 30 yard from goal on the left side, and from the resulting free-kick Thomas' headed clearance created a Stoke break. A cross from the right found Mooney 6 yards out, and he controlled it well, had an effort blocked, then smote his second go over from an angle. On the half hour mark we won two corners in a row, the second resulting in the keeper making a brilliant save from Mooney's 6 yard header, turning it round for a third corner. This was cleared but O'Connor hooked it back in and Shtaniuk headed wide from 6 yards.

On 40 minutes another good move involving Gudjonsson and Hoekstra won another corner for Stoke, but Gudjonsson's cross was for once poor and it eluded everyone in the middle before going out. On 43 minutes Hoekstra tried his luck from some distance, and his powerful shot looked goal-bound before being deflected behind for another corner. This was cleared for another corner as Stoke increased the pressure on the visitors' defence. From the cross a header goal-ward was cleared, but the ball came in again and Thomas headed wide. That was the last action of the first half, and sections of the crowd booed as the team left the field at half-time. To be honest even after conceding 2 goals we had still created enough chances to be leading at the break, and I felt the booing to be totally unjustified.

Stoke came out fired up after the interval and soon had a lifeline. On 50 minutes three dangerous crosses in a row were whipped in from the left, causing panic in Grimsby' defence. Finally a fourth come in from the right, and it was palmed away by a defender just as it seemed destined for Greenacre's head. The penalty was awarded and dispatched by Mooney in front of the Grimsby fans. It was just what Stoke needed and they then began what was a encampment in Grimsby's half for virtually the whole of the second period. On 54 minutes a good build up and Hoekstra trickery led to a shot from 25 yards by Thomas which the keeper smothered low. Three minutes later more good approach play gave Hoekstra a chance to try a shot from 18 yards, but again the keeper smothered low down.

There was a messy period for a few minutes as the referee gave a series of free-kicks against Stoke for what seemed like clean headers. This infuriated the crowd and broke up Stoke's momentum for a short while. On 60 minutes Hoekstra's ball in nearly found Mooney as he closed in, and despite it coming off a defender a corner was not given! Three minutes later a decent ball from Thomas released Greenacre down the right wing, but he was impeded and Stoke were awarded a free-kick. Hoekstra's ball in was met by Shtaniuk but his header from 12 yards flew over. A minute later it was Gudjonsson sending in a decent free-kick, which was headed down, but Mooney could not apply the touch to force it home, and it was gathered.

At the other end on 65 minutes Cutler was forced to make a great save when once again the defence were napping and a ball into space found Ostler bearing down on goal in a rare Grimsby attack. A minute later Hoekstra skinned the full-back on the left wing and put in a great near post cross for Gunnarsson to head wide from close range under pressure. On 67 minutes a Gudjonsson free-kick was headed back across goal by Thomas in a deep position, and it fell to Mooney and his shot was turned round for a corner. On 70 minutes Pulis made a change, replacing Greenacre with Iwelumo, trying to add some height to the attack. He was in the thick of it on 73 minutes when Gudjonsson's deep cross from the right fell just behind Iwelumo as he ran in and his tame tangled shot was smothered easily. A minute later a Stoke corner resulted in a weak 20 yard drive from Hoekstra. On 77 minutes Iwelumo held the ball up well and Mooney shot wide from 20 yards. A minute later a fine build up led to a Gunnarsson shot in the area going for a corner. From the set-piece Thomas got in a shot and forced another corner as Stoke battled to save the game.

On 81 minutes Pulis replaced Gudjonsson with Cooke and went 4-3-3. Bjarni was unlucky to go off as he'd played well, and while adding to the attack was a sensible move, removing one of the players who could supply dangerous crosses seemed foolish. I would have sacrificed Gunnarsson or a defender. Cooke's entrance should have brought an immediate golden opportunity to draw level. He was fed the ball in the right channel and went haring off into the area. He was hacked down and while Stoke players and fans appealed for what looked a certain penalty the referee awarded us an ultimately fruitless corner.

As the game drew to a close Stoke had more desperate efforts to get something from it. With five minutes to go a goal-mouth scramble resulted in the ball being headed on to the roof of the net. A minute later a Stoke corner went long to Thomas, and his header back across goal was met by Handyside who could only head over from 4 yards. He had his head in his hands knowing it was an easy chance to score against his former club. In the dying seconds it was Shtaniuk's turn to hold his head in his hands after heading over from 8 yards from a corner. There was 4 minutes of stoppage time, but this was "one of those days" and Stoke weren't going to get anything in a game they'd created enough chances to win by a huge margin. The final whistle went and the Stoke players trudged off dejectedly, knowing Grimsby would leapfrog them, and we'd be in the bottom three.

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (6) Two really good saves, but his hesitancy might have made the first goal easier for Grimsby. Also he persisted in holding on to the ball when we were looking for quick breaks, and this led to us losing our momentum on several occasions. Looked better on crosses, but was largely unemployed in the second half.

RB Thomas (6) A much better display from Thomas but not back at his best. Passing seemed better, and he supported the attack well. No silly mistakes as far as I can remember, but one positional lapse early in the first half.

LB Clarke (6) Better than of late too. Did well going forward down the left supporting Hoekstra. Stayed tighter to his man. A step in the right direction.

CB Shtaniuk (6) Not at his best. How many headed chances did he miss? Silly foul led to second goal.

CB Handyside (6) Not inspiring at the back. Looked shakey when faced with the pacy Mansaram. Missed a good chance at the end to level the scores.

RM Gudjonsson (7) A very good display with plenty of creation, running and lots of decent crosses.

CM Gunnarsson (6) Some very good passing in our build-ups, but then some woeful ones that got us into trouble. Got caught with the ball one or twice, but at least when he lost it once he chased back and won the ball back. Seemed to have more fight but could not provide enough influence.

CM O'Connor (8) An excellent showing. Never tired, got stuck in, chased everything, and was involved in good attacking play. A display to impress Mr Pulis. Very nearly man of the match.

LM Hoekstra (8) A brilliant display. Linked up well with Clarke and Gudjonsson, and put countless crosses in all game, giving his markers a torrid time with his skill. Shame no one capitalised on them! [STARMAN]

CF Mooney (6) Good running, and well taken penalty. Had enough chances to bag a hat-trick but missed all of the ones in open play. For that he drops points and otherwise would have had a (7)!

CF Greenacre (6) Greenacre ran around willingly, and pulled the defence about with him. He linked up well in the attacking moves from Gudjonsson and Hoekstra, and also won plenty of flicks in the air. On the whole I thought it was a good, intelligent performance, but he gets docked a mark for missing that header in the first half. It was a sitter and if it had made it 1-1, I think we'd have gone on to win.

SUBS

Iwelumo (6) A nuisance in the box but it would not fall for him. Crosses did not find him.

Cooke(6) Came steaming on late in the match and a fine surge into the box should have won us a second penalty, but for the differing opinion of the poor referee. Looked eager but again never found himself in a position to change the outcome of the game.

Conclusion

I have mixed feelings about this game. I am of course bitterly disappointed that we failed to beat an ordinary Grimsby side and now we have replaced them in the drop zone. However there were some positives to take from this game. We created a shed load of chances and on another day could have beaten Grimsby by 5 clear goals. Football is cruel at times and luck does not go your way. Added to that we are not lethal enough up front at the moment. The strikers created chances, but they have to be finished at this level or you get punished. Meanwhile at the back we are still committing silly defensive mistakes, and we cannot expect to give any side a two goal lead and take something from the game. We were denied an opportunity to equalise from the spot by the ref, but we had enough attempts to win this game in open play. Grimsby were lucky enough to find us in charitable mood at the back and up front. However to their credit they did the basics right and stayed solid in defence amidst the onslaught.

Overall I felt the Stoke performance had more passion, fight and belief about it than of late, and indeed some of the build up play was a pleasure to watch. We had 15 corners, plenty of free-kicks, and crosses from open play to score from. There was not too much evidence of Mr Pulis' favoured long ball game, but it was played at a high tempo with an emphasis on getting the ball to the attackers quickly. I was pleasantly surprised at the passing play, and on another day we might have been toasting Mr Pulis after a 5-2 victory. I hope the players do not lose too much heart after this, because they worked hard and got no reward. They kept going for teh full 90 minutes. We will play a lot worse than this and win. November will be a difficult month, and Tony Pulis has a difficult job on his hands. I hope he can turn us round. This game was a small step in the right direction, if ultimately our sixth straight defeat.

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