Delayed Stoke Report

Last updated : 07 March 2003 By Mark R
I didn't get home until 2am Thursday morning and then was up at 8am to go to a meeting in Southampton. I opened my mailbox this morning with some interest as to peoples reports from last night.

The second half display on Wednesday was the worst this season IMHO. The first half saw two poor sides struggle to put passes together and fail to take any half chances. We had the best opportunities, Rougier missed a good headed opportunity, Cullip flashed a great chance wide, and Stoke looked very weak.

Second half and Rougier was found in acres of space by a great Zamora cross, and Rougier performed some weird diving header routine to head the ball up in the air. If he had stood up and controlled the ball he was free with just the keeper to beat.

As the game headed towards 0-0 we had a great chance, but Zamora seamed rooted to the spot, Stoke broke away and for the first time exploited the freedom of both wings. Mayo and Watson both played in strange positions and Stoke placed the ball out to the right, the player put a great cross ball into yards of space where Watson should have been.

The Stoke winger cut inside and drilled in a great cross that Greenacre slotted home superbly. It was the one class moment of the whole match.

Saying that we were absolutely dire second half and Stoke had all the ball and all the pressure but didn't look like scoring.

We must win Saturday and it would be nice to start playing football again, instead of this dreadful hoofing from defence.

As for the ground, I thought the new ground is one of the better ones, I think it does have character as its not one big bowl as per Southampton and the potential atmosphere good.

The Stoke fans were fairly quiet but when they got going it was deafening! As people have already said a great turnout from the Albion, I would have said 1,000+.

I went by car (we also picked up Mac!) and I now know why we go by train. The view of the RAC building at Walsall got rather tiresome after about 10 minutes, 20 minutes later and the slightly different angled view looked no better! We saw loads of cars with Albion stickers so we knew it would be a good turnout!


Ratings

Beseant 7 no blame
Mayo 4 spent too much time forward leaving gaping holes behind him
Watson 4 as above
Blackwell 7 good defending poor passing
Cullip 7 as above (he had a good old row with Beseant at one stage as well!) Ingimarsson 6 much better than Saturday
Rodgers 4 very poor and booked for a professional foul
Carpenter 3 very poor
Brooker 3 off form
Zamora 3 off form and hardly broke a sweat
Rougier 2 will keep my comment to myself

Coppel 1 why no subs, then 2 in the last 2 minutes to waste time and an attempt to make a third. Why not all 3 together.

The tactics to sit back failed miserably!

We have looked good when we pressure teams, and play attacking football. Against Gillingham and Stoke we have been looking for draws!

Mark R