Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

10 Aug 2002: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Stoke City 0 Att: 26,746

NO FLYING START FOR OWLS AS PLUCKY POTTERS PICK UP DESERVED POINT by AndyP

Well the long wait was finally over and despite the disappointment of the large injury list, the size of the away support showed the Stoke fans were excited about life in Division One. Our driver for the day, Paddy was so excited that 2 minutes into the journey he took the wrong turn, and we had a tour of Leeds city centre before making our way on to the M1!

I'd had a tip off from a Wednesday fan of a good parking spot, and a decent pub. Sure enough the Somerfield carpark on the A61 just north of Hillsborough was virtually empty, and matched the White Horse pub which we had to ourselves. This was the scene for a bizarre incident, when I arranged to meet fellow Leeds Stokie JasonB in there for a pre-match pint. As he wandered in, Paddy was stunned as he recognised Jason as his nextdoor but one neighbour! Having wondered how many Stokies there were in Leeds, it was a bit of a surprise to find 2 living in the same street!

Any road, on to the match. We had a fantastic view, stuck up in the Gods on the very back row of the upper tier, right in the middle. It seems a very impressive ground, but gives the impression that they haven't done too much recently to improve it. The travelling Stoke army gave a huge roar as the Potters took to the field resplendent in their all white kit. I was surprised to see Commons and Clarke in the starting line-up, but after young Kris' performance his selection was wholly justified.

The game got off to a bright start with Wednesday heading wide after a minute, followed by Iwelumo having a tame shot smothered a minute later. A foul on Clarke led to a free kick, and Handyside put a header over from Commons' delivery. Commons was involved again in on 10 minutes as he tried a long range chip after spotting Pressman well off his line. Stoke were taking the game to Wednesday and looking comfortable in possession. However the home team finally came into it, as a Culter had to turn a 20 yard drive round for a corner, and on 20 minutes he made a brilliant save from a shot around the penalty spot in a crowded box.

Stoke bounced back with Goodfellow dipping a long range effort over the bar after a good Stoke break containing some sweet passing. He was involved again around the half hour mark when his clipped left wing cross was met by a diving Iwelumo who saw his header saved by Pressman. Stoke came again, and another fine passing move was halted by an obstruction on Goodfellow on the edge of the area. Commons dipped a direct effort just over the bar. Commons then had Stoke's best effort of the game as he jinked past two challenges before unleashing a powerful shot which beat Pressman and rattled the bar. The rebound fell to Gudjonsson who shot wildly wide when he had more time.

This was a good spell from Stoke, and Iwelumo's tussle by the line won a corner, from which Shtaniuk powered a header wide. As halftime approached Iwelumo turned well in the box but could only find the side-netting with his shot from six yards. Stoke finished strongly as a Common's corner was header over by Gunnarsson. They left the pitch to a huge ovation, and in their first half of 1st Division football for 4 years, Stoke had not looked at all out of place.

As to be expected the home side came out after the break with more purpose and for a while Stoke looked a little unnerved. In the first ten minutes they endured 2 corners and survived a goalmouth scramble, with a defender making a good block when a goal looked certain. On 56 minutes Wednesday missed a free header from about 8 yards, and 3 minutes later Cutler dropped a Wednesday corner but made up for it when the ball was crossed in again after the scrambled clearance, and he brillantly turned round a fierce shot.

Stoke slowly came back into the game, and might have made more of a good move but for a greedy moment from Goodfellow. He made a good run on the right but tried to take on one too many dfenders when a simple rolled sideways ball would have found O'Connor free and clear to shoot from just inside the box. On 67 minutes a Stoke freekick was aimed at Iwelumo, who appeared to be clambered on in the box, but the ref was not interested in any penalty claim. Wednesday were still threatening and headed over the bar, before an acrobatic shot from Goodfellow was tipped over by Pressman to prevent a stunning goal. At the other end Culter produced another fine stop from a powerful 30 yard direct freekick.

On 80 minutes Gundjonsson was replaced by young Brian Wilson, who took up postion in right midfield. He almost had an immediate impact as his cross attempted to pick out Iwelumo in the box. Big Chris looked to be on the end of it until being bundled over from behind, but again the ref was not going to give a penalty for the challenge. Iwelumo won a freekick 20 yards out but Commons delivery was an easy one for Pressman to take. With 2 minutes to go Commons left the field to good applause from the Stokies after a very impressive display. He was was replaced by Van Deurzen, whose immediate contribution was to concede a dangerous freekick on the right hand side near the edge of the box. The cross was headed wide for a corner, which thankfully led to nothing. A minute later the whistle went and Stoke had their first point on the board!

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (8) Some excellent saves earns him the STARMAN award.

RB Gunnarsson (7) Out of position but you wouldn't know. a good display and got forward too. Linked well with Bjarni.

LB Clarke (7) Solid display and good to see him back. Worked well with Commons.

CB Shtaniuk (7) Hard working display from “Shtanner”. A rock at the back winning every header. Easily looks good enough for this standard of football.

CB Handyside (7) Like Shtaniuk, looked comfortable at this level. A good game.

RM Gudjonsson (7) He looked a lot fitter than last season and chased more. Good link up play at times, but guilty of showboating on one occasion, and snatching at a shot on another.

CM O’Connor (7) Usual "covering every blade of grass" display. Usually involved in our good passing build ups.

CM Henry (7) A very mature display from the young lad. A good hassling and tackling performance. Worked hard.

LM Commons (8) I was surprised to see him in left midfield, but to be fair he justified Cotterill's decision to pick him. A very promising effort with lots of running while providing a creative outlet. Very unlucky not to score a goal from a brilliant move and shot which hit the bar.

CF Goodfellow (6) Pace troubled Wednesday at times, and he hit a great shot which was tipped over. However he gets points deducted for trying to take too many on too often when a simple ball would have released a team mate in a better position.

CF Iwelumo (6) Huffed and puffed and gave Wednesday something to think about with his physical presence. Should have done better with a couple of chances. Unlucky not to get a penalty decision?

SUBS

Wilson (7) Came on and looked ok in right midfield. One decent cross that picked out Iwelumo who looked to be impeded.

Van Deurzen (6) On very late, so no real contribution except to give away a dangerous free-kick!

Conclusion

So a promising start to the new season. Considering the side we put out was far from Cotterill's ideal choice, we fought well and matched the home side in a fairly even encounter. Both sides were guilty of poor finishing, but also had their goalkeepers to thank for keeping cleans sheets. A battling effort from Stoke that must have pleased the manager, especially the performances of the younger lads. We gained a well deserved point, and did not look out of our depth in this division. Only time will tell whether that's because Wednesay are poor, or we are doing things right! Another bright note is that we fnished the game with no bookings!

The walk back to the car passed off peacefully, and after a fine chip butty from the chippy near the White Horse we were on our way back to Leeds. We got cut up on the way out of Sheffield on a roundabout by what looked like the Stoke team coach, and nearly ploughed into it, but the Paddymobile lived to journey another day!

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