Saturday February 4, 2012 Day 24 Finished Britannia Stadium

  1. Sunderland win at snowy Stoke

    Sunderland win at snowy Stoke

    Sunderland's run continued in snowy conditions as they beat 10-man Stoke 1-0 in their Premier League clash at the Britannia Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Stoke City
    • Sunderland
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • - That's it! All over at the Britannia Stadium. It hasn't been pretty - well, barring the snow of course - and Stoke were probably the better side. But Martin O'Neill's Sunderland continue their stunning form.
    • 90'+3 Last chance for Stoke with a big throw from Delap - but it's a free kick for Sunderland after Crouch is judged to have helf a defender.
    • 90'+2 Great handball shout for Sunderland as Shotton handles in the area, but the ref rules it accidental.
    • 90'+2 A dangerous ball into the box from Sorensen's big free kick up the pitch, with Richardson there yet again to deny Crouch a chance to strike.
    • 90'+1 Three extra minutes to play...
    • 90' A last ditch attempt by Rory Delap draws another good save from Mignolet; Crouch gets on to it from the corner, but can't get it on target.
    • 89' Nice move up the right from Crouch, but Kieran Richardson is there to clear the ball out.
    • 88' Lots of tired legs out on the field now, with only the subs showing much urgency. The snow is the true winner of this one.
    • 86' Sunderland now take off Meyler and bring on El Mohamady.
    • 85' Shotton comes on now, Wilkinson goes off.
    • 84' Tony Pulis is finding another reason to get angry as he is denied the chance to bring on Ryan Shotton.
    • 83' Stoke are throwing caution to the wind - and why not, considering their already awful goal difference.
    • 82' Half-decent chance from Stoke as Fuller runs up the left, cuts in and unleashes a solid hit. Mignolet is straight down to take it, however.
    • 81' Still no changes made by Martin O'Neill - looks like he'll stick with the men on the pitch now.
    • 80' Fuller gets his revenge on Bardsley with a blatant hack - free kick, and the striker is lucky to avoid going in the book.
    • 79' Woodgate tries yet another long ball but Sunderland's wall of blue is too strong and the ball comes straight back.
    • 78' Magical sliding tackle from Bardsley on Fuller, right on the egde of the box to stop a good-looking chance.
    • 77' Stoke's bench are consulting with the fourth official, apparently grumbling at Sunderland trying to run the clock down.
    • 76' With a quarter of an hour left there's now almost no visible grass in the middle of the pitch.
    • 75' Close for Sunderland! The corner by Larsson slips through everyone in the box, with Meyler the last man to touch the ball as he sends it off for a goal kick.
    • 74' Sunderland come forwward again, and Shawcross takes the easy option of conceding a corner.
    • 73' Fraizer Campbell is warming up to get ready to come on.
    • 72' Meyler has taken a knock and is getting treatment.
    • 71' Crouch gets onto a ball lobbed into the box by Whelan - the big England striker gets his header on target, but it's straight into the arms of Mignolet.
    • 70' Stoke win another throw on the left, and Walters puts the ball in - but yet again the Sunderland players are back in force to clear. They're roughly playing 6-3-1 at the moment.
    • 69' A half-chance for Walters as Bardsley miscalculates a ball forwards, but the Stoke midfielder's ambitious long-range volley soars high and wide.
    • 68' We may need a break to clear some snow soon.
    • 67' Great long throw from Delap and Mignolet can't hang on to the slippery ball - but Woodgate is there to spare the goalie with a clearance.
    • 66' The free kick well cleared by Meyler, but Stoke win a throw.
    • 65' Another free kick to Stoke, this time on the right flank as Turner takes down Whelan.
    • 64' Great never-say-die attitude from Stoke's players here, they're really trying to get back into the match.
    • 63' Stoke are charging forward desperately trying to make something happen, and Delap almost finds an equaliser! His shot from the edge of the box is struck well, but just too high and flies off for a goal kick.
    • 62' Surely no way back now for Stoke City, in these horrific conditions and a goal and a man down.
    • 61' Stoke's defenders will wonder what happened there; the ball was half-sticking in the snow, neither Shawcross nor Wilkinson dared tackle McClean, and the Irishman found himself with a clear shot from all of nine yards.
    • 60' GOAL TO SUNDERLAND! James McClean finds the net, stumbling through the defence, recovering his feet, then slotting perfectly past Sorensen.
    • 59' Stoke hit on the break with Walters charging up the left and slotting a lovely ball across the box. Again, though, nobody seems able to judge the run of the ball in this snow and it rolls harmlessly away for a goal kick.
    • 58' Sunderland win a corner on the left, the ball is fizzed in by Larsson - but cleared comfortably by Shawcross.
    • 58' Colback goes down under a horrible challenge by Delap. How Huth's was a red card and that one not it's impossible to say.
    • 57' That break was probably the most dangerous move of the match so far, but it just looked for all the world like none of the players knew where the ball would go, thanks to the effect of the snow.
    • 56' Larsson makes a terrific run up the right, crosses straight through the box; McClean picks it up on the left and puts it back in, but again none of the Sunderland players can get on the end of it.
    • 55' Stoke win a throw on the left, and Delap launches it in - but it's cleared upfield and Sunderland break.
    • 54' It's getting slightly ridiculous now, we can hardly see the ball half the time. If the match had started any later it may not have been able to go ahead.
    • 53' From the free kick Stoke win a corner; taken, and headed clear back into the middle of the park.
    • 52' O'Shea shouts his mouth off at the ref after that foul, and earns himself a spot in the book.
    • 51' Stoke look lively up the left and win a free kick as O'Shea barges over Walters.
    • 50' Meyler now gets caught by Ricardo Fuller - free kick to Sunderland.
    • 49' The pitch is almost white now, with only the lines on the pitch and the six-yard boxes clear.
    • 48' Seb Larsson needs a bit of treatment after hurting his head in a mid-air challenge.
    • 47' Sunderland come straight up the pitch as we get back under way, and Sessegnon almost gets his head onto a ball into the box. A half chance there.
    • 46' The weather is, if anything, looking even worse as the second half gets under way.
    • - Tony Pulis is still going bananas about what he sees as a horrific injustice. The snow has made this a very dull first half, in all honesty. Let's hope things heat up in the second half.
    • 45'+2 Pulis sacrifices Jermaine Pennant to bring on Jonathan Woodgate. That's two of his subs gone already.
    • 45'+1 That seemed harsh on Huth considering that the Stoke man was well in control of himself, aiming low, while Meyler was already airborne.
    • 45' STRAIGHT RED FOR HUTH! Martin Atkinson adjudges him to have gone in with both feet, and reaches for his pocket. Tony Pulis is apoplectic.
    • 44' Nasty foul that by Rob Huth - he's put in a two-footed challenge on David Meyler.
    • 43' Sunderland win a throw near the right corner as Huth misjudges a ball sticking in the snow, but he wins the ball back from the throw and clears upfield.
    • 42' Huth wins the ball in the centre of the park, laying it off for Walters to have a pop from outside the box. Mignolet gets down quickly to make a comfortable save.
    • 41' Sorensen fumbles a high cross, but recovers it as he falls to the turf.
    • 40' Jerome is struggling with that knock, and is now replaced by Ricardo Fuller.
    • 40' Pennant takes it this time, headed clear upfield from Rob Huth.
    • 39' The free kick taken by Larsson; comes straight off Pennant and off for a corner.
    • 38' Sunderland win a free kick as Huth bundles Colback over by the right corner flag.
    • 38' Oddly, the snow not sticking to Colback's ginger hair. Is ginger hair red because it has internal heating?
    • 37' It's not much of a game so far, but interesting to see what some of these players will look like when they go grey in later life. The snow is sticking like mad to the heads of Crouch, Richardson and several others.
    • 36' Pennant makes a run through the middle but is nudged off the ball by Colback - free kick to Stoke, but it's headed clear by Turner.
    • 35' Jerome comes off to get a little more treatment, Tony Pulis may have to make an early substitution if he can't be patched up.
    • 34' Jerome is down for treatment after clashing with Michael Turner in the challenge for that Walters cross. He's hobbling, not yet clear how bad this is.
    • 33' Walters makes a nice run through the centre and lays it out to Walters, who crosses it back dangersouly. Excellent punch clear from Mignolet is equal to it, though.
    • 32' Mix up in the Stoke defence as Sorensen has to run miles out of his box to try and clear a deflected pass; but Sessegnon was ruled offside in any case.
    • 31' That's the first proper chance, though looking at the replay you'd have to say that Sorensen had it covered all the way.
    • 30' A shot from Sessegnon! Lovely work in the centre of the pitch from Colback; the midfielder gets tackled and the ball falls to Sessegnon, who pulls the trigger but watches anguished as his low shot flies past the left post.
    • 29' Seb Larsson will take the corner... it's curled in, and Peter Crouch is there to head it clear.
    • 28' Still no signs of a breakthrough from either side, though Sunderland have now won a corner.
    • 27' Jerome and Pennant link up down the right once again trying to break into the box, but Richardson again is there to tackle and clear.
    • 26' Sunderland come forward again with a long ball into the box, but Glenn Whelan is there to trap it and clear.
    • 25' The Stoke fans are still singing their hearts out. Magnificent. Though possibly they're just trying to keep their lungs from freezing up.
    • 24' Sunderland move up with a ball for McClean to chase on the left flank, but he's marginally too slow and it's off for a throw.
    • 23' Veteran ball slinger Rory Delap tries a trademark throw-in from the right, but it's collected by O'Shea.
    • 22' That snow really is whipping in almost horizontally, and all the players are still struggling despite presumably being properly warmed up by now.
    • 21' Jerome tries to get on the end of a long ball into the right corner, but he can't control it. Goal kick.
    • 20' Sunderland beginning to go through the gears now, seeing more of the ball - but we're well short of seeing any chances from either side so far.
    • 19' Stoke are dominating possession so far, but now Sunderland have a free kick for a late challenge on Gardner by Whelan.
    • 18' Lovely bit of work up the left by Walters, and Michael Turner puts it out for a Stoke corner.
    • 17' The corner comes out to Huth, who slots it out to Whelan to deliver a cross. It's a nice chipped cross, but Mignolet takes it confidently.
    • 16' Pennant to take the free kick, and Richardson is there to head it off for a corner as he gets it away from Whelan.
    • 15' Free kick to Stoke for a foul on Pennant, but from where we were he looked like he merely slipped over.
    • 14' Kieran Richardson puts Mignolet's heart in his mouth for a moment with a loose back-pass that curls away from the keeper, but the goalie manages to recover it.
    • 13' Jon Walters goes on a run but falls over - Martin Atkinson rules it a slip on the snow rather than a foul, however.
    • 12' Neither side really mastering these conditions so far, with both relying on big hoofs upfield from their goalies for the only half-chances we've seen.
    • 11' The snow is still falling pretty thickly now, with the ball coming to a quick halt as if the match was being played on plasticine.
    • 10' Gardner tries to break through the centre, but Shawcross closes him down just as he's about to find space.
    • 9' Crouch pressures Richardson down towards the corner, then Pennant wins it from the throw - but puts his cross straight out into touch.
    • 8' Pennant takes the corner short and it falls back for Huth to have a crack from distance; the shot doesn't get past the first defender, however.
    • 7' A big clearance by Sorensen starts a nice opening for Stoke, with Pennant forcing Richardson to coneded a corner.
    • 6' Half-chance for Stoke as Shawcross pumps a long ball up the pitch, flicked on by Whelan for Jerome, but Mignolet is there to take the ball confidently.
    • 5' Jon Walters moves up the left trying to cut in and get a cross in for Stoke, but it's cut out by Bardsley.
    • 4' The home fans are shaking the stadium walls with their cheerful singing. Snow? What snow? Not much to get excited about yet though.
    • 3' Stoke keeping the ball well and trying to make a move; Cameron Jerome gets clobbered in a firm but fair challenge by John O'Shea and Sunderland have the ball back.
    • 2' A slow start to the match with both sets of players looking like they'll need a good few minutes to warm up before things heat up here.
    • 1' We're under way at the Britannia Stadium.
    • 15:00 Looks like we'll be a couple of minutes later kicking off today.
    • 14:59 Martin O'Neill is taking nothing for granted about Sunderland's Premier League survival, despite his amazing start to life in the Black Cats dugout. O'Neill still dreams of points
    • 14:58 Matt Etherington misses out today due to a virus, missing a chance to make his 100th Premier League appearance for Stoke City.
    • 14:55 The groundstaff are working like crazy clearing snow off the lines and painting them blue to try and defy the weather. Let's hope we don't have any weather-related delays this afternoon.
    • 14:50 Latest pre-match odds make Stoke 11/8 favourites, with Sunderland at 12/5 and the draw a slightly bizarre 40/17. Never seen that before.
    • 14:48 The weather in Stoke today is, frankly, pretty bloody awful. They're currently clearing some snow off the pitch, but more snow is falling even as they do so.
    • 14:45 Sunderland have Fraizer Campbell on the bench today, the player looking to make it three goals in as many games since his return from injury.
    • 14:40 Stoke have won one of their last seven PL matches – 2-1 at Blackburn on January 2. They failed to score in four of these matches. Sunderland, by contrast, have lost just one of their last seven PL matches - the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea in January.
    • 14:38 Today's ref is Martin Atkinson, the most red-card happy ref in the Premier League today. He's handed out six red cards this season, more than any other top flight referee.
    • 14:35 Despite the run Sunderland are on, the raw season stats suggest these two sides couldn't be much better matched: both are on 30 points after 23 matches, with eight wins and six draws apiece. But Sunderland's goal difference is a full 20 goals better than Stoke's.
    • 14:32 Tony Pulis has huge respect for his opposite number today, and even believes he should manage the national team: "They have got loads of confidence and Martin has got them really going... This is not just a coincidence - the record says that he is a top, top manager, because he gets results. If England are looking for a British manager next time around, if it is not going to be (Tottenham boss) Harry Redknapp then Martin would be a fantastic choice." Pulis tips O'Neill for England job
    • 14:30 TEAMS - Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Walters, Jerome, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Jones, Fuller, Diao, Whitehead, Shotton, Woodgate //// Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Meyler, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon. Subs: Westwood, Bridge, Campbell, Wickham, Ji, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady
    • 14:25 In this fixture last year, Stoke produced something of a miracle victory as they came from behind to snatch all three points. Rob Huth was the hero that day, scoring twice in the last eight minutes.
    • 14:20 The omens don't look good for Stoke: last time these two sides met in the league, Sunderland smashed them 4-0, and that of course was before the arrival of Martin O'Neill. Or 'St Martin' as some Mackems have already started calling him.
    • 14:15 Good afternoon, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Stoke City's match against Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 82' Half-decent chance from Stoke as Fuller runs up the left, cuts in and unleashes a solid hit. Mignolet is straight down to take it, however.
    • 63' Stoke are charging forward desperately trying to make something happen, and Delap almost finds an equaliser! His shot from the edge of the box is struck well, but just too high and flies off for a goal kick.
    • 60' GOAL TO SUNDERLAND! James McClean finds the net, stumbling through the defence, recovering his feet, then slotting perfectly past Sorensen.
    • 56' Larsson makes a terrific run up the right, crosses straight through the box; McClean picks it up on the left and puts it back in, but again none of the Sunderland players can get on the end of it.
    • 45' STRAIGHT RED FOR HUTH! Martin Atkinson adjudges him to have gone in with both feet, and reaches for his pocket. Tony Pulis is apoplectic.
    • 30' A shot from Sessegnon! Lovely work in the centre of the pitch from Colback; the midfielder gets tackled and the ball falls to Sessegnon, who pulls the trigger but watches anguished as his low shot flies past the left post.
    • 14:30 TEAMS - Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Walters, Jerome, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Jones, Fuller, Diao, Whitehead, Shotton, Woodgate //// Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Gardner, Meyler, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon. Subs: Westwood, Bridge, Campbell, Wickham, Ji, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

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Comment 114 - 133 of 133

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Stop annoying us all Somerset and get off this site.­ Fool

    From john, on Fri 10 Feb 0:47

  2. TP a winger?? he hasnt played for years??!!

    From s---c---f---c, on Mon 6 Feb 4:22
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Huth is a filthy player and, whilst the red card was­ harsh what goes round...

    From couture, on Mon 6 Feb 4:19
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tony pulis is a winger when stoke played liverpool last­ talked about king kenny Winging tony is first class at­ it just because you lost to sunderland

    From Maurice, on Mon 6 Feb 4:15
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tony pulis is a winger

    From Maurice, on Mon 6 Feb 4:02
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Why blame the ref's for sending off and booking­ players,the main reason players get sent off is other­ players,diving faking, cheating and appealling for­ everything,just liars and cheats.what does the PFA­ think about it .managers winge when it's thier­ player,but not a wimper when it's the­ opposition.sorry the game has had it for me

    From Joe Dourley, on Sun 5 Feb 16:10

  7. Game ruined by an atrocious decision by a moron in­ black

    From fred, on Sun 5 Feb 15:29
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Stoke are going­ doooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn. Dive­ Dive Dive

    From john, on Sun 5 Feb 13:59

  9. ive been told that if the leauge had started when mar o­ neill had taken over sunderland they would be top of ­ it .

    From cabbi, on Sun 5 Feb 12:00

  10. delsageordie,there are many games left,but that 6­ pointer in early march will tell its own story. Till­ then,why be so spitefull? you nasty little man......

    From ray, on Sun 5 Feb 7:22

  11. thanks rich,no love here though!!

    From s---c---f---c, on Sun 5 Feb 6:28

  12. why do the skunks revert to insults lets get back to­ the banter ON FOOTBALL getting boring it makes me want­ to go to the sports direct arena F T M

    From david, on Sun 5 Feb 2:31
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Down. That's a word we will be hearing a lot of­ soon. The premiership is just too big for us. Stoke­ will drop like a stone. Championship here we come. I­ will be wearing my latex underpants tomorrow.

    From john, on Sun 5 Feb 2:23
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    '#119 alan who else did brighton beat in the­ cup.......lets all laugh at you

    From delsageordie, on Sun 5 Feb 2:16

  15. So, Mick, what am I to make of your mug? Best­ I've ever seen!

    From Rich W, on Sun 5 Feb 2:13

  16. with a face like that,a hammering might help you out

    From s---c---f---c, on Sun 5 Feb 2:01

  17. So jonny you say you will never live in Sunderland then­ I must agree with Julian it's not because you­ won't, it's because you can't. Either­ restraining order or home arrest(ankle bracelet?),­ probably allowing you to go to your fravorite place in­ the world LAZY'S PARK. Stevenage AND Brighton and­ Hove Albion HA HA HA HO HO HO i'm still laughing,­ haven't stopped for a week now.

    From Alans, on Sun 5 Feb 1:51

  18. Rich-no prizes for guessing where the thumbs down have­ come from.

    From julian, on Sun 5 Feb 1:45

  19. All in the spirit of sportsmanship. . . God, I've­ never gotten hammered like this before on the ratings.

    From Rich W, on Sun 5 Feb 1:36

  20. Rich W-thats a gracious comment and an example of the­ spirit that many could learn from-I'm quite taken­ aback.

    From julian, on Sun 5 Feb 1:27
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