Stoke City v Aston Villa Match Thread

[Dante Lavelli]

How tacky does Sky's MNF look?
I doubt ITV could have done worse.

[KevinGage]

As it is, they'll probably make a few changes half time and claw it back.

Looks like they have the wind behind them for the 2nd half, which may just help them long throws.  Pessimism aside we have looked so much more threatening since the goal, hopefully we can bag an early chance 2nd half to kill them off.

Hopefully.

I've never heard their home support so quiet.

Maybe this whole Premiership novelty is wearing off for them.

[JJ-AV]

We've missed a trick there.

Great last 15 minutes, but if we'd nicked a second I reckon that would have been it - no more bets.

As it is, they'll probably make a few changes half time and claw it back.

Exactly my thoughts, despite our dominance I think it's far from over yet and don't expect all 3.

[Rigadon]

The last move with AY whizzing the ball across deserved a goal.  Brilliant stuff.  Love the balance that Albrighton gives us.  A more natural wide player than Milner ever will be and he's as industrious. If he develops at this pace for a year he'll be an England regular.  We still need a clinical goal scorer - I hope that doesn't leave us short in this match as we've had 3 good untaken chances to Stokes 1 (BF's cracking save from Jones).

[paul_e]

I think Reo has been a big difference here in all honesty.  Very good, understated first half, but solid and allowed the rest of the midfield to wander a bit and get involved.  Also hasn't played a bad pass. 

[supertom]

Sometimes it looks like Ash couldn't deliver a fucking pizza.

Go on then mate.

Can I have that as my sig?

[richard moore]

I saw movement off the ball by Villa players - lovely stuff

And Reo-Coker giving the simple ball, making himself available, and doing it again. And no lumping the ball up to that lazy sod Carew either

[Somniloquism]

Some great delivery.

I may be blind but one of the first relevant pieces of action I saw from Gabby was his cross for A Young.

Missed his cross for the first goal then. The two best crosses from us were from Gabby. The third was Albrighton for Downings chance that unfortunately did not have the pace to beat Sorryson at the back post.

[hilts_coolerking]

Dwight must be the worst pundit ever.  There was one priceless moment in the first half when he said:

"Villa were very inv..., inv..., er, in front of goal there."

[berneboy]

I counted 11 passes leading up to our goal - and about ten minutes possession!

[supertom]

I think Reo has been a big difference here in all honesty.  Very good, understated first half, but solid and allowed the rest of the midfield to wander a bit and get involved.  Also hasn't played a bad pass. 

I'd go along with that. He's nipping in and breaking everything up and his ball use has been very good today. He's improved over the last year, and I suspect now, will get a run of games with Kmac and Houllier.

[sfx412]

Reo Coker involved several times for the goal, plenty of accurate passes, breaking play up. Dear me hope he keeps it up, what with Downing scoring with his head, all we need now is Ashley to hit the target with a cross or a corner and the night will be nigh on perfect.

[citizenDJ]

Talk about a confidence player! Downing is like a different player since he scored! That said, we're like a different team, and showing the potential that no doubt attracted Houllier to the job; the right manager could really do something with this lot!

Have to say, I think NRC is playing very well, and has shown some neat little passes in the first half - is someone actually, y'know, coaching him?!

[JUAN PABLO]

We  looked fantastic after we scored.  Downing improved immensly ..  Two wonderful crosses by Gabby, shame Gabby was not on the end of his cross for the second one.  NRC got betteras game went on ..   Albrighton putting a good shift in.    This game should be dead and buried  , lets hope we grab a second so we can enjoy the game....      wish we had two Gabbys  ;-))     

[richard moore]

Dwight must be the worst pundit ever.  There was one priceless moment in the first half when he said:

"Villa were very inv..., inv..., er, in front of goal there."

Awful isn't he. No brain there at all even by Sky standards and that's saying something!!