Stoke City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

My thought process as he shaped to hit it. In the space of a few milliseconds it was "wtf you doing" to "that's going to be close" to "yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssss" and then pandemonium broke out and all logical thought vanished.

[eamonn]

Right in front of the Villa fans...must have been quite the orgasm,

[OCD]

My thought process as he shaped to hit it. In the space of a few milliseconds it was "wtf you doing" to "that's going to be close" to "yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssss" and then pandemonium broke out and all logical thought vanished.

I lost track of the ball in the sun. So my thinking was 'What are you doing'...'what's happened?'...'Oh what a goal'

[seanthevillan]

Slightly baffling verdict from Sky Sports:

Best of the match...

Man of the match: Nathan Baker. Put his body on the line for the good of the Aston Villa cause.
Goal of the match. Not a tough choice. Matthew Lowton's 35-yard volley screamed into the top corner and gave Asmir Begovic no chance.
Moment of the match: A second half air shot from Kenwyne Jones summed up Stoke, and it came as no surprise to see them fold late on.

I thought Baker and Vlaar did ok but were never particularly convincing, and that was against a very poor side. Bennett was the most assured defender and did well with the ball.

[Ads]

Fucking get the fuck in!

We went absolutely mental when Matt "Mark Delaney" Lowton smashed in the most unbelieveable goal you will see all season!

Benteke had been poor but put the cherry right on top of an excellent away performance. Big credit to the defence, even young Bennett who coped really well. Ok Stoke are utter shit, but we defended everything they hoofed at us. Matt Lowton got a fantastic block in just before they scored, but slipped to let them come in off the wing.

No matter, we have a new steel to us. Despite the fact we should have been four up, they had a "good" ten minutes when our shape left us a little and they scored. Normally we would wilt, but full credit to the team.

Only one team wanted to play football today and thankfully they won.

The crowd were the business too; so loud throughout. Get in!

[steffo]

That goal will be as legend as Chris Nicholl v Everton in years to come. Perhaps for different reasons though.

[ACVilla]

I said it just after we lost 8 at Chelsea, i like Lambert, i like the philosiphy and ive never really felt as proud to be a Villa fan. If we stay up now we could have a really enjoyable ride.

Nice to see my ITK ref team news didn't let me down.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Oh yes oh yes oh YES!!!

That Lowton wonder strike really changed things for us. After Adam had come on we were being bossed around and it felt like all our domination might give us just a point. I couldnt believe it went in.

[Stu]

Are we first on MOTD? Doesn't mention us on the programme website.

[eastie]

Are we first on MOTD? Doesn't mention us on the programme website.

Yes first game up.

@GaryLineker: The #MOTD running order: Stoke/Villa, West Brom/Arsenal, Norwich/Swansea, Reading/Saints. 4 belting games. BBC1 10.30

[Bad English]

Fantastic early birthday present! Didn't see any of it as I was manning a cement mixer in the garden all day. As Dave said on page 1 "Fucking get in!"

[Smirker]

Will the game be available to download online anywhere? Missed it and would like to watch it back in full if possible. Cheers.

Anyone? In return, I will be your internet friend. 

[Jimbo]

Fantastic early birthday present! Didn't see any of it as I was sweating under fake leopard-skin sheets with a severe cold and fever in a dive hotel in Vladivostok...

Congratulations also to all those who had faith and knew we'd win this, unlike me. Sometimes a little faith can go a long way.

[Stu]

Are we first on MOTD? Doesn't mention us on the programme website.

Yes first game up.

@GaryLineker: The #MOTD running order: Stoke/Villa, West Brom/Arsenal, Norwich/Swansea, Reading/Saints. 4 belting games. BBC1 10.30

Excellent, cheers.

[VillaAlways]

Great write up in the Guardian



The contrasting emotions at the final whistle told their own story. Stoke supporters vented their anger after another dismal performance that deepens their relegation fears while the euphoric Aston Villa fans chanted "we are staying up" on the back of a thoroughly deserved win that lifts them out of the bottom three and within a point of their Midlands rivals.

Stoke have now won just one of their past 13 league matches and, on this evidence, Tony Pulis has a major battle on his hands to prevent them from slipping into the Championship. Villa were superior in every department and it would have been a travesty if they had failed to leave the Britannia Stadium with three points.

Ahead through Gabriel Agbonlahor's early goal, they were left to rue their first-half profligacy when the substitute Michael Kightly equalised 10 minutes from time. Matthew Lowton, though, restored Villa's advantage with a goal-of-the-season contender and Christian Benteke added the gloss to a hugely rewarding afternoon for Paul Lambert and his players when he broke through to add a third in the 90th minute.

It is difficult to do justice to just how bad Stoke were in the opening 45 minutes. The only comfort for the home supporters was that the game was not beyond their reach at the end of a first half in which Villa created numerous chances and Stoke looked absolutely clueless.

Apart from a decent penalty shout inside the opening 90 seconds, when Jonathan Walters's cross struck Nathan Baker on the arm, Stoke never looked like causing Villa any problems with their predictable and limited long- ball approach.

The manner in which Stoke fell behind was a sign of things to come. Marc Wilson and Matthew Etherington allowed Lowton to escape far too easily after a simple throw-in routine with Jordan Bowery on the right. Lowton picked out Agbonlahor's run towards the near post and, following Geoff Cameron's half-hearted attempt to block, the Villa forward tapped in the loose ball from three yards.

Villa were buoyant and, with the anxiety inside the Britannia Stadium almost tangible, sensed the game was there for the taking. Bowery's curling effort brushed the side-netting, Agbonlahor swept a left-foot shot just wide and Andreas Weimann, bursting through the middle of a porous Stoke defence, saw his shot superbly pushed on to the post by Asmir Begovic.

Another wonderful opportunity arrived in the 35th minute, when Agbonlahor escaped in the inside-left channel and bore down on goal. With Begovic off his line, the chip was on but Agbonlahor opted instead to try to take the ball around the Stoke keeper. It proved to be a bad decision, Agbonlahor's heavy touch followed by an embarrassing dive that ended up with him being booked.

Bowery had another chance to extend Villa's lead early in the second half but Begovic produced another fine stop. In contrast, it was 73 minutes before Stoke carved out a notable opening, when Cameron Jerome shrugged off Baker and cut the ball back for Kenwyne Jones, only for the striker to hit the ball against his standing foot.

Pulis responded by bringing on Charlie Adam in place of Ryan Shotton, who had endured a torrid afternoon, and the decision brought immediate reward. Walters came inside Lowton and picked out Adam, who nudged the ball on to Kightly for the winger to sweep home.

Villa, though, hit back in style. After Adam only half-cleared Charles N'Zogbia's corner, Lowton took the ball on his chest and thumped a 30-yard volley into the top corner. With Stoke pushing forward in vain, Benteke skipped past Ryan Shawcross and beat Begovic in the closing seconds.