Erik Pieters scored his first Premier League goal yesterday, past his Dutch international team mate Tim Krul to give Stoke the fluke 1-0 win over Newcastle.
This was Pieters first goal in almost six years and I don’t think he will score another goal quite like it in his career. It even left some people debating if it was a cross or not. Only he will ever truly know but thanks to him Stoke are now just three points behind our opponents as we go into a battle with Cardiff next weekend with that top ten finish still at the forefront of many fans minds.
Stoke currently sit six points above West Ham in tenth, but they have a game in hand, so as long as the Potters keep winning no one can catch them.
That being said, following the 4-1 away win at Aston Villa, fans all thought that Mark Hughes had finally figured out the problem Stoke were having on the road and set the team straight. It was one of the best games I have ever watched as a Stoke fan and has a permanent place on my Sky + planner for when any one of my friends decides to tell me Stoke still play rugby.
Flowing football, scoring from open play and passing! Stoke thought they were sorted, fans actually thought Stoke could go into the game with Chelsea thinking they could do the double over a team they hadn’t beaten in their entire Premier League career.
I admit, I was one of those people. I think some people call it optimism– or is it really stupidity? Chelsea are fighting with Liverpool for the Premier League title, a trophy The Blues haven’t won in about half a decade. Did fans really think Stoke could go there and beat them on their own turf?
Yesterday, the Potters were out for revenge since Newcastle embarrassed the team on Boxing Day, because not only did Stoke have two players sent off and finish the game with nine men, but also lost 5-1 and some of the goals were laughable.
Much like Stoke yesterday, Chelsea would have been out for revenge because of Oussama Assaidi’s screamer that won the game 3-2 back in December. Whilst the brilliant on-loan Liverpool winger wasn’t playing last week due to injury, I don’t think it made a difference since the team were a shambles. Stoke went from playing our best ever away game a fortnight before, to one of their worst.
Granted Stamford Bridge doesn’t hold a lot of good memories for the Potters. Who can remember the 7-0 defeat there a few years ago? Admit it. I know, before I mentioned it I had forgotten all about it to, and inside fans heads many were hoping that they could get a form of retribution and make a bit of history.
The problem is, fans are expecting too much too soon. It’s all well and good getting excited and predicting a win, but to get angry and turn against a team because they lost 3-0 to a title chasing side. It’s wrong and fans need to realise that this is just the beginning for Hughes. His team will get better and maybe next year, Stoke will get that win.
Anyway, back to the positives, Erik Pieters, Marko Arnautovic and Ryan Shawcross played the game of their lives yesterday and as much as Match of the Day want to put Stoke last and tell us the game was rubbish, Newcastle fought with everything they had and the Potters overcame their challenge.
Hopefully a win next week against Kenwyne Jones’ new side will allow the Potters to leapfrog them as well. Either way, Stoke remain on course for the top ten finish and little by little they are getting there.
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