Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

19 Oct 2002: Stoke City 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Att: 16,885

PUNCHLESS POTTERS MAULED BY HUNGRY WOLVES by AndyP

The atmosphere in the car down to Stoke was a little muted despite a beautifully sunny day. The departure of Steve Cotterill had dampened the enthusiasm some what, and the arrival of Wolves at the Britannia Stadium to take on a managerless Stoke City filled me with concern. I felt that the league postion of our visitors did not accurately show the quality of Wolves, and it would take a Stoke display similar to that against Ipswich to win the match, and anything less would leave us struggling. Unfortunately Stoke never got close to matching that performance, and deservedly lost to a side who had more desire and hunger.

With Gunnarsson back from suspension and international duties, Henry made way for him in midfield, while Mooney's 3 match ban meant another outing for the Hoekstra-Cooke strike partnership. Other than that caretaker manager Dave Kevan stuck to the usual players, but there was a surprise as Chris Greenacre was included on the bench after a lengthy injury lay-off.

The game started at quite a pace with Stoke trying to take the game to their opponents early on. After 4 minutes a fine pass from Handyside found Gudjonsson near the edge of the area, and he slipped past a defender with a turn of pace, but the ball ran too far forward for him to get a shot in, yet he managed to stretch and prod a cross towards his supporting team mates, only for it to be cleared. Five minutes later Wolves produced a very poor corner, but were then gifted a chance by O'Connor giving the ball away, but luckily the 20 yard shot was well wide.

After 17 minutes Stoke earned their first corner when a cross was flapped at and dropped by a nervous keeper Murray, and it fell to O'Connor whose shot was deflected behind. A minute later a shot from Hoekstra had to be turned around for a another corner. Sadly this was wasted as it was played short and no cross found its way into the box with all the big men up for it. It was the first of several poor set pieces by Stoke thoughout the game.

After 25 minutes a Wolves corner was well headed clear by Gunnarsson, but the ball was soon back in the box and it took a superb challenge from Shtaniuk to prevent a close range shot which surely would have been a goal. The next five minutes saw Wolves stepping up their effort and they managed two shots from around 20 yards but both sailed well over and did not trouble Cutler. On 31 minutes Stoke actually had the ball in the net. O'Connor was pushed over to give Stoke a free-kick wide left near the corner flag. The ball was passed to O'Connor, and his shot was was well saved, but Cooke nipped in to slip past the keeper and stab the ball into the net from close range. The celebrations were cut short by a raised linesman's flag for offside.

The game continued to be fairly even, competitive, yet not too composed. On 41 minutes Stoke won another corner but Vanduerzen's delivery was poor and it did not get past the first defender and was headed clear. Two minutes later Cutler was called upon to make a save from a weak shot from the edge of the area. On 44 minutes Hoekstra was played in well and he managed a fine 18 yard drive from a tight angle with the defender in close attendance, and this was smartly saved by Murray, and Stoke had a corner. In almost a carbon copy of his last effort, Vanduerzen put in a poor delivery and Wolves were not tested. In stoppage time a good Stoke move earned another corner, but the whistle went for half-time before they could take it.

So at half-time I'd say a fairly uninspiring but solid display from Stoke had slightly edged the visitors in what was a pretty even and largely unentertaining affair. What was worrying was our distinct inability to fashion decent chances for our forwards, but we were looking solid at the back. The interval saw ex-Stokies Noel Blake and Vinnie Overson come on to the pitch to do the raffle draw.

I don't know what Dave Kevan said to the lads during the break but the second half display was dismal. From our kick-off we managed to lose the ball and almost immediately were having to defend a corner! Such shoddy play was to be typical of the second half effort. The corner came in and was looped over from about 7 yards leaving the Wolves forward with his head in his hands. On 52 minutes Stoke had a half chance when a hacked clearance shot up in the air and Hoekstra got beneath it to send an 18 yard header goalwards but it was tame and easily dealt with. On 55 minutes nice work from Hoekstra linking well with Cooke teed up Gunnarsson for a shot which went well wide from long range. A minute later a Clarke error led to a Wolves corner which proved fruitless but 2 minutes after Cutler was forced into a fine save to prevent a certain goal from a close range effort from Miller. From the corner Wolves forced another as they slowly began to dominate proceedings.

On 60 minutes Blake headed wide for the visitors from 8 yards after a fine cross from the right. Three minutes later Shtaniuk had to make a good block to turn a 12 yard shot round for a corner, and Culter made a good save from a header from the resulting set piece. On 66 minutes Wolves tried their luck with an angled 20 yard drive which finished in the side netting. Stoke were losing everything in midfield and beginning to look overrun. Gunnarsson was trying to get forward, but looked tired chasing back, and O'Connor struggled to compete with the Wolves pack. It came as some surprise then that on 72 minutes Dave Kevan made a tactical switch taking of Gudjonsson for Goodfellow, and effectively removing a man from midfield. Gudjonsson was unlucky to be subbed. He had a quiet game, but due to Wolves often having 5 men in midfield he was unable to get wide to provide telling balls, and spent much of his time cutting inside to try to win the ball. The change meant Goodfellow went upfront with Cooke, and Hoekstra dropped in the hole just behind them. Personally I would have taken Vanduerzen off and put Goodfellow or Hoekstra on the left wing to add pace and creativity. The result of the change was Stoke being even more overrun in midfield and gave Wolves more space to exploit us.

Thomas went on good run about this time and forced a corner. Vanduerzen's cross was headed goalwards towards Thomas but the keeper claimed it easily. Soon afterwards Stoke were reeling from a Wolves goal. On 77 minutes Cameron picked up the ball in an empty midfield and advanced past 3 players before unleashing a shot from 12 yards that deceived Culter following a deflection off Shtaniuk's thigh. Having failed to look capable of scoring and without attacking prowess Stoke looked a defeated side. Two minutes later Wolves had a good opportunity to increase their lead when Shtaniuk brought down a man 25 yards out in a central position. Veteran Irwin stepped up, but blasted his direct free-kick well over. On 81 minutes Stoke managed to win a corner but yet again a poor delivery allowed the keeper to claim easily.

The only bright spot of the affair came on 83 minutes when Greenacre made his first league appearance for Stoke after an injury sustained in a pre-season friendly. He replaced Hoekstra which in tactical blunder number two Dave Kevan removed our last creative outlet. It was a short run out for Greenacre but good to see Stoke's only Summer signing finally getting on the pitch. Stoke switched to 4-3-3 with Greenacre joining Cooke and Goodfellow up front. Still overrun in midfield and no width there was no real service to the front men, and it looked like a miracle would be needed to salvage a point. Stoke did manage a corner with 2 minutes to go, but again it came to nothing. Wolves finally killed off Stoke within the last minute of stoppage time. Once again the midfield went awol and Blake found himself with the ball facing three defenders. He still managed to wriggle free and sent in a crisp low shot from just inside the area which beat Cutler at his near post to make it 2-0 to the visitors. As soon as Stoke kicked off the whistle went for full time possibly as the referee had spotted crowd trouble flaring up in the Sentinel Stand, and the players quickly scuttled off.

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (7) Made several good saves. Not at fault for goals and kept the score down!

RB Thomas (5) Got forward well once, but defended sloppily at times. Passing largely poor.

LB Clarke (5) Still persists in giving his man too much room. A number of errors left us in trouble. Pushed up well in first half to provide support for Vanduerzen.

CB Shtaniuk (7) Several key blocks and largely on top of Wolves forwards. Unlucky for first goal [STARMAN]

CB Handyside (6) Largely solid.

RM Gudjonsson (6) A quieter game, but he couldn't get into it due to Wolves dominance in midfield. Unlucky to be subbed.

CM O'Connor (5) Overrun most of the second half.

CM Gunnarsson (6) Looked good going forward. A few decent passes and spurts up field. But gave the ball away at times and looked knackered chasing back. Maybe tired from 2 internationals in a week?

LM Vanduerzen (5) Not enough creation from the left. Terrible crossing from set pieces. Not enough bite.

CF Hoekstra (7) Some neat touches, and flashes of skill. Not entirely suited the role of target man, looked better when he drifted down the flanks. Had a couple of decent efforts on goal.

CF Cooke (6) Got no real service and spent his time chasing balls down channels and trying to hold it up. Not quick enough to beat the defence. Misses Mooney, and cannot partner Hoekstra.

SUBS

Goodfellow (5) Came on, and did nothing to create any openings.

Greenacre (6) Came on too late, and received no service but got stuck in. Nice to see him on the pitch at least.

Neal - Came on in dying seconds to replace Vanduerzen and too late to be awarded a mark

Conclusion

Stoke played ok for a few periods of the first half which was fairly even, but we didn't create enough chances. We had about 3 efforts on target throughout the game and at home that is not acceptable. The second half was a shambles with a largely absent midfield and no apparent ability to pass the ball. Wolves dominated this period and deservedly came away with three points. Our best two players were a defender and the goalkeeper! The game looked to be heading for a draw but I think Kevan's tactical changes made it easier for Wolves and removed what little creative elements we had and ultimately cost us a point (which we didn't probably deserve!) Unlike Cotterill who used to spend the match making copious notes and shouting from the sidelines, Kevan spent all the game in the dugout. Were his instructions being heeded? There seemed little spirit from the lads and the disappointment of Cotterill's departure seemed to have affected them too. We need a new manager as soon as possible. Sadly any potential candidate watching this on TV wouldn't have been too impressed! Overall a limp surrendering of the 5 match unbeaten run. Any more showings like this and it will be the bottom three for the Potters. The only good things I could take away from this visit to Stoke were Greenacre making an long awaited appearance and the dozen oatcakes from Porthill for the freezer in Leeds!

Fancy writing a match report? Submit your efforts by email