All Stoked Up
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A Day to Forget – Stoke City Smashed by Spurs

By Garry Welsh

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Marko Arnautovic of Stoke City (C) and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur (R) challenge for the ball during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Marko Arnautovic of Stoke City (C) and Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur (R) challenge for the ball during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Was it really that bad? The match result strongly suggests that Stoke City never turned up, but there were glimmers of hope throughout the game. Unfortunately glimmers of hope do not guarantee 3 points.

The Teams

Stoke City

Given, Cameron, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Peiters, Allen, Whelan, Imbula, Walters, Bony, Arnautovic. (4-3-3)

Spurs

Lloris, Davies, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Walker, Wanyama, Dier, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane (4-2-3-1)

Good Start for The Potters

The show started brightly for Stoke City with Wilfried Bony having a shot blocked by Vertonghen in the first 2 minutes after Walters played him in with a pass. 3 minutes later Imbula sent Marko Arnautovic through with a well timed pass. Mark thought he had put Stoke ahead with a beautifully placed shot into the top corner only to see he had mistimed his run and was given offside.

Stoke kept the pressure on causing confusion within the spurs defence. Whelan had a thunderous volley that Davies managed to turn over the bar. The resulting corner gave Ryan Shawcross a chance to head the home team in front. Unfortunately he didn’t get enough on it and Lloris saved with ease.

Spurs Start to Warm Up

On the 25min mark Tottenham decided they wanted to play as well. Deli Alli forcing Shay Given into a save pushing the ball over the bar. Spurs kept coming forward and Alli again had a shot after a driven pass into the box fell to his feet after a couple of ricochets left the Stoke defence bewildered. Alli only had Given to beat but dragged his shot wide.

Tempers Start to Flare

Arnautovic was involved again this time a booking for simulation. Mark Hughes was sent to the stands when his protests were spotted and deemed unacceptable. The fact that a tackle on Walters minutes before had gone unpunished. Hughes was not happy and urged the home fans to make some noise.

0-1

For 41 minutes it looked like Stoke could maybe come away with something. Then Eriksen found his way to the by line placing a cheeky pull back into the path of Son, who slotted home.

The teams went in at half time with the score 0-1 and if Stoke could start the 2nd half as they had the first then there was a chance they could salvage something.

2nd Half

Stoke didn’t really come out fighting. Shawcross had a chance from a corner but his effort was marginally wide. It took 11 minutes for Spurs to add to their tally when Eriksen showed some close control and sent a well weighted pass forward to Son. Who converted with a curling shot. 3 minutes later and Delli Alli found himself on the end of a Walker cross to make 0-3.

The game was clearly getting away from Stoke and they could do nothing but get frustrated. Harry Kane added a forth when Son turned provider.

Summary

Stoke showed some good football early on but failed to keep their heads after the Arnautovic booking. The score line is not good but I don’t think that will get as much coverage as Mark Hughes touchline tantrum.