Stoke City eased their relegation fears tonight in a six pointer game vs Queens Park Rangers. Rangers, Stoke’s relegation rivals, had the opportunity to go above the dotted line and send Stoke into the dreaded bottom three, however, The Potters dug deep and earned a well needed three points.
This win means that Stoke are now six points off the drop and sit in nineteenth place.
Stoke came into the game off the back of an eye opening loss away at Blackburn on the weekend and four league losses in a row so three points is very well valued tonight.
The Potters started off quite shaky as Iverson was called into action in the second minute of the game to deny Paul Smyth as he broke into the Stoke box causing early warning signs for the Potters. The home took a while to get into their groove as their play was very sloppy at time and viewers could tell the players were anxious of making mistakes.
The first chance for the home side came in the thirty third minute as Michael Rose connected with Lewis Baker’s corner with his head, however, his header was well tipped over the bar by ex-Stokie Asmir Begovic. Shortly after, Begovic is called into action again as Niall Ennis Powered a shot from outside the box towards goal but Begovic did well to hold onto the ball.
On the stroke of half time, Stoke were rewarded for their pressure as Wouter Burger tapped the ball in at the back post following a corner to make it 1-0 City!
The start of the second half was slightly nervy for Stoke as QPR came out hungrier in the second half as they put pressure on the home side in the openings of the second period. The Potters after weathering the Rangers storm, sat back and made sure that they defended for their lives and hit QPR on the break.
Stoke came close to netting a second goal in the seventy first minute as the home side desperately tried to poke the ball in from inside the box and after a sequence of pinball, the travelling side managed to clear the ball away.
Shortly after, substitute Lyndon Gooch nearly punished the QPR defence after he drove into the box and fired a shot just over the bar after a creative pass from Lewis Baker.
Stoke managed to hold on to their lead and the game finished 1-0 to the Potters. A much needed win for Stoke who now sit 6 points above the drop zone with QPR staying underneath the dotted line in twenty second place.
The win wasn’t visually pleasing however, the only thing that matters is the result.
Here’s head Coach Steven Schumacher’s views on the game:
"We spoke about that earlier in the week and even tonight before the game we said to defend the goal like it means something. We did that. Everyone. The starting XI put their bodies on the line, shots getting blocked outside the box, the goalkeeper made a good save at a huge moment in the first half, he dealt with every cross that came in the area. We got our heads on all the deliveries that QPR put in. We showed that desire to keep a clean sheet. I think everyone deserved it."
"It was a tough game against a team who are closer to us in the league so we were all aware of how important the game was. The performance wasn't one that we'll remember forever, the game wasn't a classic but for us to get that win at home was all important. Three points is all that counts tonight."
Full time: Stoke 1-0 QPR
Attendance: 19,307 (732 away)
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