Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

22 Sept 2002: Stoke City 2 Ipswich Town 1 Att: 14,587

TRACTOR BOYS GIVEN ROUGH RIDE BY POLISHED POTTERS by AndyP

I wasn't sure what to expect from this particular fixture. A welcome win at Brighton had followed a decent but ultimately fruitless display at Burnley, and I thought if Stoke could maintain that sort of effort we might be in for another 3 points. What I certainly didn't expect was the shock unveiling of the latest Stoke City addition before the start of the game, yes Pottermus has pulled, and has now been joined by Pottermiss! His new partner looks much the same, but is pink, and her Stoke shirt is worn with a white skirt! She seems a feisty thing, as Pottermus was on the end of his first "domestic" as they ambled off prior to kick-off! Classic!

Cotterill kept to the old adage of "don't change a winning team" and started with the side that won at Brighton during the week. This meant the first glimpse of loan man Mooney for the Britannia Crowd, and a more experienced midfield of Vanduerzen, O'Connor, Gunnarsson, and Gudjonsson.

Stoke started the brighter of the two sides, and earned a corner after 5 minutes when Cooke's shot was deflected wide. The cross was headed clear but fell to Gudjonsson, and his shot was blocked, and play was stopped for an Ipswich injury. Stoke then had a good five minutes of neat build-up and pressure to put the visitors on the back foot, ending in a lovely pass slipped through to Cooke who'd gone a fraction too early, and was caught offside when well placed for a run into the box. Four minutes later another good move culminated in a deft chipped pass into the box by Clarke for Mooney. This went over the defence but just bounced awkwardly and favoured the last man who cleared just as he was shaping to shoot from about 12 yards.

But we only had to wait another minute for our reward for the early dominance. A foul on the left around 35 yards out gave Gudjonsson the chance to put in a free-kick. His clipped ball was perfect and picked out Shtaniuk who rose and looped a header in from around 14 yards on 17 minutes. Rather than the alarming tendency to concede straight away, Stoke were boosted by the goal and looked to add to their tally. On 22 minutes another great chip over the defence put in Mooney in the left side of the box, and he managed a shot from a tight angle that looked to be going in until seemingly turned inches wide for a corner by the keeper. However the ref decided it was a goal kick! Two minutes later Cooke headed over from a cross from Gunnarsson. On 27 minutes there was pinball in the Ispwich box as three successive goalbound Stoke shots were blocked by a panicking defence.

A minute later and Ipswich had their first effort of the half. Clarke was beaten on the right and a pull back into the area was driven wide from 10 yards. Two minutes later and Holland put a header over from 12 yards after another cross from the right. He was involved again a minute later when he shot wide from 14 yards, but credit must go to O'Connor whose hassling did enough to put him off. It was end to end at this stage as Thomas knocked a lovely pass deep into the right channel were Cooke was in acres of space and went charging after it. His decent cross on the run had to be turned out for a corner with Mooney waiting to pounce. The corner came out to Gudjonsson and his deep cross was headed clear. It was only a temporary respite for Ipswich as Gunnarsson put in a shot wide from the edge of the box after the ball fell to him during another bout of pinball in the visitor's area.

Stoke had reason for concern after 39 minutes. A melee in the Stoke box eventually ended as a Town goal-bound effort was looped over by a last ditch City foot. However it has to be said that Cutler looked to be ruthlessly impeded and was on the floor under a Town player as this was going on! Luckily the corner came to nothing. Three minutes later Stoke earned a corner after good work from Gudjonsson following Clarke's cross. The corner was taken short and rolled to Gudjonsson who shot powerfully from outside the box, but his effort was blocked and Ipswich manage to break. Just before half-time Clarke gave the ball away, and Counago missed from 9 yards from the resulting low cross from the right. Stoke went down the other end and were looking for a second goal as the whistle went for half-time. They left the field to great and deserved applause.

Ispwich obviously got a half-time roasting and they came out looking more purposeful at the start of the second half. Five minutes in a deep cross from the right found an Ipswich player at the far post, but his stooping header under pressure was weak and Cutler was able to pounce on the loose ball. Stoke soon were back on the attack. On 58 minutes a great ball from Gudjonsson got Cooke in behind the defence, and his cross/shot was taken by the keeper as Stoke players were steaming into the box. A minute later a determined run by O'Connor (coming out of several tackles with the ball) took him into the box on the right, and a cut-back cross was turned behind for a corner as he sought to pick out Mooney or Cooke. From the corner Gudjonsson's cross was headed over by Thomas.

Ipswich then began to have their best spell of the game. Just after the hour mark a cross from the right was met by a close-range header which thankfully went straight into Cutler's arms. During the next two minutes Ipswich managed to shot over from 12 yards after good work around the box, and then shoot over and wide from the edge of the area. On 68 minutes they got the seemingly inevitable goal. Clarke lost out on a tackle in midfield and a pass was swept out to Ambrose with time and space to whip in a dangerous ball. His centre was turned in by Holland from about 4 yards although it might have gone in off Gunnarsson. Cotterill decided to make a switch on 71 minutes, and the hard working Vanduerzen was replaced by Commons, as the manager looked for the win.

However for a short period it looked like Ipswich were now getting into their stride and it might be them who'd be more likely winners.On 74 minutes Culter produced a fine save to turn an 18 yard drive for a corner. Stoke slowly began to regain their composure after a period of frantic play, and a Commons run was ended 25 yards out by a cynical block. His freekick hit the wall and fell to Gudjonsson, who clipped in a cross, picked out Gunnarsson, but he could only fire weakly at the keeper, stretching to get his shot away.

On 80 minutes a move of real quality gave Stoke the lead, and ultimately the win. Gudjonsson again advanced down the right before putting a fine cross to the left hand side of the box. Commons met this sweetly on the volley, and his cross-goal ball was turned in by Cooke from 6 yards infront of a wild Boothen End. It might have come slightly against the run of play, but we merited it over the course of the game. Much to my surprise we held on quite comfortably for the last ten minutes, with some composure at key moments from the defence, and sensible running the ball into the corner to run down the clock. There was one nervous moment as Ispwich were given a free kick on the edge of the area, but this was blazed wildly over. One sad sight was to see Commons replaced by Henry after picking up a knock. Hope it's not too serious. When the whistle went there was a huge roar from the home crowd, appreciating the excellent performance and a very handy 3 points!

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (7) Played very well. Made one very good save.

RB Thomas (8) Got forward well, defended resolutely.

LB Clarke (7) Played well for most of the game. Still persists in giving his man too much room. Missed some key challenges, but at the other end supplied some great chips into the box.

CB Shtaniuk (9) Masterful at the back. A superb solid display and a goal!

CB Handyside (8) Worked hard shackling the Ipswich forwards.

RM Gudjonsson (9) A superb display, supplying the invention and crosses. Virtually behind every decent Stoke move, passed the ball brilliantly, had Ispwich on the back foot, and was provider for both our goals. [STARMAN]

CM O'Connor (8) Much better from Super James. Very good going forward, and passing was a lot better. One determined run shaking off several tackles!

CM Gunnarsson (8) Looked like Brynjar of old. A much better display, charging forward in attack, and linked well with Gudjonsson.

LM Vanduerzen (7) Hard working without setting the world alight. Most moves seemed to come from the right, so maybe he was being left out a little!

CF Mooney (8) Added a bit of flair and power to our forward line. Worked well with Cooke. A determined and hard working display. The Ipswich defence knew they had been in a game with him about!

CF Cooke (8) You can never fault Cookie's work rate, and now he's scoring goals! Seems to enjoy his new partner and seems confident infront of goal! Excellent

SUBS

Commons (7) Came on, helped us get the second goal, then limped off!

Henry (6) Came on late on to replace injured Commons. Didn't do anything wrong in the final moments.

Conclusion

This was a very entertaining game to watch with Stoke playing some very good football. At times it was gritty and hard working, while at other times it was frankly very skilfull!. Stoke had the majority of the play and chances over the 90 minutes, and despite a good spell from Ipswich in the second half when they equalised and looked more likely winners, Stoke dug deep, found extra reserves and deserved their fine winning goal. Ipswich are a good team, and might have been a little under par for this match, but like the game against their rivals Norwich, Stoke were the better team overall and this time took all the points. Some more displays like this and a top half finish is a realistic aim. Finally well done to Bjarni. He was outstanding, and it was good to see him applaud the fans at the end and have his name chanted around the ground. That display should shut up his detractors, and at the moment he looks very much at home in this division.

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