Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[avfc_1874]

Massive 3 points.

There's always that problem with going to the Britannia and not taking your chances as Stoke are always capable of scoring/fluking a goal.

Matt Lowton. I salute you sir (not in the Di Canio way)

[barrysleftfoot]

 Good footballer Westwood, a bit lightweight, and fades a bit, but as danno says, playing too many games atm,but we don't have much choice.Don't underestimate Delphs contribution to Westwood's improvement though, his energy, and pace, means Westwood does'nt have to do so much.

 I actually thought Delph had a better game than Westwood tbh.

[Boz]

Well, I was out and so relied  on the R5L commentary and  - TBF - Danny Mills was very complimentary about us.

Which is nice.

Stoke have the worst form in 2013 in the P-ship which is why I thought we were in with a shout; thank God we pulled it off.

Onwards and upwards.

Unlike Francis on TV, struggled to say anything complimentary about Villa unless it was unavoidable.

[danno]

Delph's turn of pace is brilliant, when he gets it right he just glides past challenges.

[usav]

Says a lot that the most powder puff Villa team and especially defence in years, finally get a win at Stoke.

Wonderful goal from Lowton and good to finally get a win after threatening to do our usual throw it away act.

Stoke are terrible and should go down based on that.   

[dekko]

To be honest I thought that apart from that 10-20 minute period where everybody went to shit and they equalised we were really very good today - created loads of chances (although the finishing wasn't great from the strikers) and generally bossed the game.

As for the Sylla/Gabby sub - the commentator on my stream said Gabby had an ice pack on, so it was probably a forced change, although putting on a defensive midfielder instead of N'Zog or Bent was a bit of an odd decision.

Also no catastrophic defensive howlers to speak of!

Onwards and upwards 

[sonlyme]

When Gabby came off they put a couple of what looked like ice packs on his leg.  I think he might have taken a knock - as that's all the Stokies can do.  Vile place.

[Simmons]

Brilliant. There were a horrible few minutes when you knew Stoke were about to score but it looks like we're starting to turn this around and are toughening up a bit too.

Guzan - 8 - outstanding. Confidence-inspiring, coming out for punches and to claim balls he had no right to. Didn't have much chance with the goal. What a difference from those shaky memories of the Blackburn semi. Wouldn't swap him for any keeper in the league right now.
Lowton - 7.5 - I was thinking he'd had a great game even before the goal. Set up the first and played well throughout, with the exception of the slip for the Stoke goal. I didn't realise the goal had gone in until I saw him celebrating, just seemed too unlikely!
Vlaar - 7 - pretty good but he's not turning out to be the player we hoped he would.
Baker - 7 - strong in the air and held up really well against the physical Stoke attack. A brave block when he took the ball full in the face. Did well to stay on his feet just after that when he could easily have slid in and given away another penalty just after that. Felt happier having him in for this game than Clark.
Bennett - 7 - better, I think. Unspectacular but nothing too worrying.
Westwood - 7.5 - great ball retention and kept the whole side ticking.
Delph - 8.5 (MOTM) - thought he was brilliant today. Was everywhere, won a surprising amount in the air and kept his discipline well.
Agbonlahor - 7.5 - looked really up for it in the first half. Unlucky to be booked - don't think Gabby's cute enough to even try and dive but it did look bad.
Weimann - 7 - can see why Lambert played him centrally - all energy and industry and didn't give Stoke's defenders a moment's rest. Really unlucky when he drove through and hit the post.
Bowery - 7 - his physical presence helped the team compete and he did ok. Did well to get a touch back to Lowton in the build-up to the first goal.
Benteke - 7 - not at his best but very calm for his goal and it was great to see him toying with the Stoke players as they were running down the clock in the last few minutes.

Sylla - didn't have much time but put himself around.
N'Zogbia - did well to inject some pace and won a couple of handy free kicks to slow things down.
Bent - don't think he touched the ball.

Before I forget, Trevor Francis... what a moron. Why is he being paid? Dull and really doesn't offer any insight into the game. There's no point having a former pro commentating if they can't offer anything a decent journalist could. Idiot.

Absolutely delighted. Let's hope results go our way tomorrow.

UTV

[*shellac*]

Lowton's goal...Even Better Than The Young Thing.

Massive win, proud of the boys.

[Arsey]

Lowton diving in YET AGAIN.  Sorry, he's shit. 

[Summers]

Lowton and Westwood, when you consider where they came from, have had incredible seasons. Lowton has now scored two great goals. This one should be goal of the season. What technique that boy has, he's also a really good Premiership fullback.

[Colhint]

is this the first time we have more points than games played?

I FEEL SOOOOO GOOD

[danlanza]

Lowton diving in YET AGAIN.  Sorry, he's shit. 

That has to be goal of the season. No doubt at all. Truly fantastic finish. What a goal.

[Lizz]

What a goal from Lowton. My mom was at my house all afternoon, so I could only half follow the game, what with her wanting to watch the Grand National as well.

[Ron Manager]

We nearly blew it. If you score one and then miss two very good chances (Weimann and Bowery) you stand every chance of conceeding one
and Stoke scored.Then  Ron Vlaar handled (looked an obvious pen on the box) but Clattenberg didnt give it.

Thank God for Lowtons goal. All right it was spectacular but even if it was a tap in from two yards that was the most important goal of the season. Benteke who had been marshalled well by the Stoke defence then scored a very good goal indeed .Better than Lowtons in my opinion.

Cant think for the life of me why Bowery was in the line up it doesnt make sense  Westwood was above excellent for the majority of the match he really caught the eye.

Finally Stoke were awful  Shotton must be the worst proffessional in that clubs history and they could well go down.