All this time worrying about City failing to score enough goals and how our strikers hardly ever scored at all. So what happens when City, the team with the third worst away record in the Championship. visit the side with the meanest home defence in the Championship? We record only our third away win but with considerable ease through a Cameron Jerome double and Peter Thorne getting his 50th Cardiff goal against his former club with a penalty.
Make no mistake, the Bluebirds were very worthy winners in a game when, apart from a terrible few minutes either side of half-time, they dominated, out fought and out thought the Potters from first whistle to last. Stoke were shockingly poor, making mistake after mistake (and it was their mistakes that helped City to each goal) and often booed by their own support (if it wasn't for their booing, I would have forgotten the home fans were there!) but credit to City for that. They were up for the job, 110% focussed and had the will, skill and desire to win and just about triumphed in all areas of the park.
A car of us headed on the 140 mile trip to Stoke from my workplace near Newport. All was going very well until we hit the usual rush hour traffic chaos and jams at the M5/M6 interchange. We diverted onto the M6 South and tried to beat the jams by going through Walsall. I'm not sure if it was much quicker but we kept moving and visited the village of Stone - a, ahem, Stone's throw from Britannia Stadium - for light and, mostly, not so light refreshments.
The 12,768 (600 or so from South Wales) missed what was surely the best football skill of the night - my dazzling keepie uppie followed by an over-the-shoulder flick then back-heel of my brother's Nike 90 football in the pub car park attempting to get it into the boot of his car ... it flew straight into the canal behind instead. Doh!
Salvaging the ball made us late to the game but we were joined by two coachloads of the pop'n'crisps official supporters club who, somehow, managed to get lost finding Stoke and had to be escorted to the ground by police.
Britannia Stadium, as you may know, is situated on a large hill overlooking the city centre and visible from some distance away. The ground - modern, new, four all seated stands, "old-fashioned" in that they are not all connected to each other - has been described many times in match reports here over recent years. What was refreshing this time is that it wasn't a "bubble" compulsory coach travel game and, with past feelings, hostilities and animosities between the club waning to normal levels, it felt more relaxed there too.
Lennie Lawrence had one starting change but surprised us all, and almost cost City the points with it. With Rhys Weston injured and most likely out for the season, it was widely expected Darren Williams would be recalled to start. After all, Williams is the natural right-side defender who only lost his place through illness and, being one of the cheaper paid players, is also likely to be around next season.
Instead, he kept Saturday's substitute Tony Vidmar in the role. That's Tony Vidmar, normally left-sided, normally central defence, who has played poorly most of the season and, whom, it was announced at the start of the day was leaving for NAC Breda of Holland this summer. Lennie has often expressed his embarrassment that Vidmar was not playing for City and his misplaced loyalty and judgement in doing this is why he will always have his critics.
Williams was therefore on the bench and joined by Willie Boland, replacing the unfortunate Toni Koskela. Boland was available again after 3 months out. City's side were therefore Alexander, Vidmar-Collins-Gabbidon-Barker, Ardley-Ledley-Langley-McAnuff, Thorne-Jerome. Subs were Margetson-Boland-Boulding-Williams-Lee.
Stoke have had a surprisingly good season but it seems to be ending prematurely. Their wagebill, it is claimed, rivals Rotherham. They just recorded a profit. Their season tickets for next term just went on sale with the most expensive being under £300 and starting at just £20 and no more than £99 for kids. They certainly show us the way to go.
On the pitch, they must have fancied 6 points against Rotherham at home last weekend and ourselves. Had they done so, they would have been within 3 points of the play-offs with a game in hand. Defeats in both means, however, that they are destined to finish around mid-table. They way they played, it seemed as if they had accepted their fate.
Their starting line up was Simonsen, Buxton-Thomas-Taggart-Hill, Harper-Brammer-Russell- Neal, Jones-Noel-Williams. Subs included Ed deGoey, Karl Asaba and Gudjohnsen (Eidur's brother). A red card for star defender Michael Duberry last weekend meant that he was absent, former City loan player Chris Greenacre was hospitalised with a virus.
My late arrival meant that, thankfully, I missed what seems like the 30th one minute silence of the season - this one to mark the Pope's death. Even so, it was very surprising to see all the players adorning black armbands. I so wish football would stop being swayed by royal events, news events and 101 other idiosyncrasies. There is no other sport, entertainment venue, workplace or environment where this keeps happening ad nauseum. It's nothing to do with football and it's over the top. Those who wish to pay respects to the Pope have plenty of opportunity and infinitely more appropriate places than a football stadium. Stop this nonsense. No offence intended, that's how I see it.
The game started quietly - good for us late arrivals - and was notable only for City fans taunting Stoke by singing their anthem Delilah for them, goading them to chant back, singing out the name of Graham Kavanagh (now missed by both clubs) and then singing The Peter Thorne Magic Hat chant. They were supportive from the off, home fans were deadly quiet - their pre-match one minute silence carrying on for the game duration too.
It burst into life however either side of the 15 minute mark as City threatened from two corners by Neil Ardley. From the first, James Collins met the dropping ball deep in the area but fired well over. The next was agonising as Cameron Jerome brilliantly met Ardley's outswinging ball with a firm connection that had Simonsen well beaten but relieved as it smacked off the top of his crossbar. With City now making good headway and assuming control, Richard Langley put fantastic power on a 25 yarder but it flew over. Peter Thorne should have done much better meeting a Richard Langley free-kick at close range than divert it straight at Simonsen.
Danny Gabbidon had moments of inconsistency at the back, the first came when he needlessly gave the ball away to Gifton Noel-Willaims, who looked fatter than me in the unflattering Stoke striped shirt, and only his pace to recover saved his, and City's, blushes as Gifton was clear on goal.
That apart, Cardiff were comfortable at the back although Tony Vidmar was already showing a worrying tendency to simply hit aimless balls upfield or, worse, play them high and diagonally but Langers and Ledley were keen and doing well whilst Jerome was looking troublesome and Thorne sharper than the weekend.
On 26 minutes, it was heaven as Jerome set City on their way with a goal from the first of several costly errors by the Stokies. Gerry Taggart was on the ball 30 yards out under no pressure whatsoever at the back but hit it straight at Peter Thorne who used his football brain to chest down and, in an instant, play the ball back behind Taggart with interest. His flick was food and drink to CAMERON JEROME who burst into space and then showed fantastic composure to draw Simonsen out of goal and once he had committed, to roll the ball wide of him from 12 yards.
It was celebration carnage in the City end as we already were feeling good about this one. I was jumping up and down, hugging away, like a deranged maniac and managed to start some human skittles ending up knocking 4 people sideways and my brother falling onto the back of the seat in front which snapped. He was holding his ribs in agony but still celebrating. (Hope you're ok today bro!). Doh!
Home supporters were so agitated by their side's display that they were already booing and heckling their own team before half-hour had elapsed. City were in control, their movement slick, their football confident, the control near total but they continued to undo let themselves down with moments of madness.
Stoke had identified Vidmar's lack of pace and confidence as the area to attack and their few dangerous moments always came that way. They had no chance on the left, Chris Barker was outstanding once more, his work-rate and energy getting up and down the pitch a joy to see. Home supporters were so agitated by their side's display that they were already booing and heckling their own team before half-hour had elapsed.
When City's play broke down in central midfield and Tony Vidmar lost his man, a switched cross saw Noel-Williams get in front of him too easily and stooped at the far post. Enter Ginge Collins with more heroic defending to thrown himself in the way, get his body to block and send the ball behind for a corner with Stokies so desperate that they appealed for a penalty. Yeah, right.
You hoped City would have more than a 1-0 interval lead to show for their domination and it almost happened as Jerome, causing havoc once more, burst behind Stoke's defence but shot wide. One minute later, all City's excellent work was undone by more madness.
The resulting goal kick found its way down City's right where McAnuff won possession and rolled the ball back to Vidmar. The Aussie however belied all his experience and international credentials by floating a slow chest high ball towards Danny Gabbidon on the edge of the area. A Stoke midfielder burst onto it and Gabbidon was so exposed that he was left with little option but to ensure the player did not get past.
Vidmar's error cost, the free-kick compounded it. Right in front of goal and just to the left, it was touched aside to CLINT HILL who drill and skimmed it low and right inside Alexander's near post, the keeper again looking a tad slow getting down but the shot was deadly accurate.
Just before half-time, Ginge took a 30 yard free-kick with fantastic power but sent his effort a good 15 yards wide but, incredibly, City almost went behind in added time. A high, hanging ball to City's right saw Lewis Neal too easily get in front of Vidmar, his close downward header saw Alexander rooted but luck shone on us as the ball bounced of the inside of the post and roll out in front of goal where Ginge was first to react and smash away. To be drawing at half-time was a near travesty, if we had gone behind, it may well have been soul-destroying.
Half-time: STOKE 1 CITY 1
The half-time mood was that the game was there for the taking but general anger about the selection to pick Vidmar instead of Williams and, then, his subsequent display. You shouldn't single out one man but anything Stoke produced invariably came down Vid's side.
City however re-gathered and sent out an early warning as Chris Barker picked up the ball on halfway, came forward and forward again. With nobody closing him down, Barks unleashed a 25 yard howitzer that had Simonsen beaten but flew past the angle of far side post and crossbar by a fraction. It would have been some goal had it gone in.
After that came two major let offs. Firstly, Gabbs lost the ball deep inside his own penalty area through carelessness but great covering and blocking saw City get away with it. Then Vidmar again lost out on the right and Neal sent over a cross unchallenged. When it flew over, Kenwyne Jones (on loan from Southampton) had a free header and looked certain to score. His header however seemed to go across goal rather than straight in and then Noel-Williams put it wide from almost on the line. Some even suggest that Jones' header would have gone in had he left it. It was the miss of all misses.
Those moments of terror each side of half-time however turned out to be Stoke's only worthy moments of the entire match. Incredibly and fantastically, by the hour, the game was over and City had 3 points in the bag thanks to two goals in two minutes to send us completely bonkers. Just before the goal rush, Peter Thorne so nearly scored throwing himself to meet an Ardley cross with a full stretch diving header, the ball just flying over.
However on 58 minutes, City were back in the lead with a fantastic pitch length goal. Stoke gave the ball away deep inside City's half where Chris Barker glided past a Stokie and found Joe Ledley. Ledley turned inside past another man and slipped the ball ahead to Peter Thorne. Thorney lost his marker and passed another low ball ahead turning Stoke defenders and inviting CAMERON JEROME who still had it all to do but did it brilliantly. Firstly, he got level with the last man, held him off in a show of strength, touched the ball ahead into the area and as Simonsen slid out, he dinked the ball over him and into an empty net.
Jerome ran right to the front of the away end doing the ayatollah and then stood in front of us with his arms out-stretched. The rest of the team caught up and mobbed him. Players and fans celebrated as one. As so much pain and problems, this was a moment of magic and how we loved.
And the, almost straight from the kick-off, it was delirium as Russell played the ball straight at McAnuff who burst away so quickly that he left other City players behind. As he got into the box, he new exactly what to do. He got behind the last defender at an angle and waited for the challenge, down he went and an obvious penalty. City fans were so happy with complete disbelief at events unfolding.
PETER THORNE's penalty was immaculate. The purposeful run up, he made Simonsen commit and dive to his right as he rolled the ball the exact opposite way. 3-1 to City. Thorne's 50th career goal for City was also our 50th in the Championship this term.
Stoke fans booed, a few walked out, City fans singing delilah, the ayatollah, we want four, the Blues are staying up, Men of Harlech, it was full-on party time. Some even quipped how City always do well every time a Pope dies.
The final half-hour was a blur but Stoke did nothing except make more errors and were in complete disarray and shock. How we laughed and applauded as their passes went astray and out of play, others fell on the ball and City's tenacity and domination so complete that we won absolutely everything. How we so enjoyed waving cheerio and singing 'time to go' as half the home fans disappeared long before final whistle. I'd almost forgotten what it was like but the feeling is as good as ever.
There were more chances too. Jerome burst through behind defenders who couldn't cope with his pace and looked set for a hat-trick but a poor touch took the ball away from goal. Another move saw City players lining up to shoot and score before Ardley fired wide. City could have had more.
In the closing minutes, Thorne and Jerome was replaced by Lee and Boulding. Both had several touches but never quite created. It was a magnificent, powerful performance by City. Jerome will rightly take all plaudits but I thought Chris Barker shaded him for City's man of the match. Gabbs wasn't at his best but got away with things and Ginge was magnificent. There is an overwhelming case for Williams to replace Vidmar this weekend but I bet Lennie names an unchanged team.
Joe Ledley and Richard Langley had a great night in central midfield, they are justifiable worries that they may be lightweight but there was little doubt they won their battle by some margin. Well done lads. Looking wide, Neil Ardley was quiet but Jobi McAnuff was simply excellent, wining balls, up and down, running himself into the ground, showing no mean skill and usually leading City's forward charges. In front, Thorney and Jerome linked well and Stoke couldn't deal with them.
Final whistle brought ecstatic scenes as the team celebrated with us and in front of us. Lennie even did the ayatollah and the value of the win and three points couldn't have been more decisive. Plymouth won, Gillingham drew but Watford, Crewe, Brighton and Rotherham all lost. At one stage in the first half with Gillingham winning, City were technically in the bottom three relegation zone. By half-time, City were overtaken by Gillingham and Brighton had fallen into the drop zone. By the end of the night, City had amazingly risen 4 places to 17th - 5 places but only 2 points above relegation - and with 2 games in hand.
Fifty points - with City's vastly superior goal difference - may well be enough for survival and, if so, that means 4 points in the final 6 games will be sufficient. From feeling worried and desperate, all of a sudden, we can see some light. Godamnit, we can still make the play-offs!!!
What a night. The journey home flew by. And as we were back in 2 hours, it certainly was flying. What a brilliant game football is.
Report from FootyMad
After a crushing defeat to relegation certainties Rotherham on Saturday, another potential hiccup was on Tony Pulis' horizon with the arrival of the struggling Cardiff City.
Early signs pointed to a drastic improvement in the Stoke side when with only seconds on the clock, captain Gifton Noel-Williams forced a corner with his 20-yard deflected shot.
However, it wasn't to last long as the visitors gained a strong foothold through striker Cameron Jerome.
After a left-sided Joe Ledley cross, the youngster's looping header almost beat Steve Simonsen with the ball clipping the crossbar.
The opener came on 26 minutes when a poor pass by Gerry Taggart fell to the feet of former fellow employee Peter Thorne.
His pass picked out Jerome and left him to calmly slot the ball into Simonsen's bottom left from 12 yards.
An equaliser came five minutes before the break when Clint Hill took full advantage of a 25-yard free-kick to score his first for the club.
A lay-off by Dave Brammer was met by the boot of the defender to send his strike into Neil Alexander's bottom left corner.
The Potters should have taken the lead four minutes after the restart but a blunder by Noel-Williams prevented the opportunity.
After a superb header by on-loan Kenwyne Jones, City's leading scorer seemed to clear his team-mate's effort over the bar.
The Bluebirds soon found their rhythm again though and on 58 minutes retook a slender lead.
Another defence-splitting pass by Thorne found Jerome who this time opted to cheekily chip the ball over the sliding Simonsen.
Only two minutes later another defensive error, this time by Lewis Buxton resulted in a penalty when he fouled Jobi McAnuff.
Thorne had no reservations and stepped up confidently, stroking the ball into the despairing Simonsen's bottom right corner.
Late changes in desperation made little impact as Stoke's lowest crowd of the season waved goodbye to their play-off hopes.
External reports
Western Mail
Stoke Sentinel
Oatcake (Stoke City)
South Wales Echo