After not having the opportunity earlier in the season to go to a Stoke game, when I was offered another chance, I wasn’t going to let this one pass. It took the best part of three hours to get there, and I was late. I had to meet up with a colleague and 4 guests, unfortunately 2 of these guys were very late due to the traffic on the M6. I was able to take my lad for the experience.
We were supposed to be in the Greenhoff suite, named after one of our best players of the 70’s- Jimmy Greenhoff, but there had been some trouble with a few of our customers at the last home game against Newcastle, so we were moved to the Waddington suite – named after our legendary manager of the 60’s and 70’s. Terry Conroy was compere, and a thriving throng of helpers were on hand to make sure our every need was catered for. There was a programme, a new Stoke City magazine and free to enter competitions at the table with a commemorative badge of the game – the club crests of Stoke and Blackburn with the Premier League icon included. Food was out of the top draw, I skipped starters as my Big Mac breakfast was still sitting a little heavy, but this was soon obliterated by the stunning Plaice main course and Orangey Chocolate number for afters. We made our way to the seats just before kick off, to find ourselves right on the half way line, half way up the John Smiths stand – there could have only been a few better seats in the house.
27,500, a sell out, were in the ground ready for this “relegation” threatened encounter. Credit to the Blackburn fans who turned up in large numbers and were very loud. The last time I encountered a tingle down my spine like I did at this point, is when I last went to Wembley to watch Stoke beat Stockport in the Autoglass Trophy win, thanks to a fantastic Mark Stein strike.
The game was scrappy, Stoke had the upper edge throughout, apart from a 10 minute spell in the first half when Rovers tried to pass and muscle their way into our half. In reality they were poor and posed no threat to goal all game. We had numerous Rory Delap throw in’s, Liam Lawrence corners, created one or two opportunities, but Rovers (or big Sam Allardyce’s tactics) had us reasonably contained throughout. Sam should know our style, he sort of created the Stoke style when he was at Bolton for all those years. The first half disappeared in a flash – the 45 went in no time, probably because me and the lad were enjoying ourselves so much. The interval comes and goes, again in no time.
Second half is much the same, with the deadlock eventually broken by Liam Lawrence from a Danny Higginbotham cross, that was flicked on by James Beattie. It was only our second shot on target all game, but the crowd noise was deafening and the most amazing rendition of Delilah fills the ground.
We hold out for a win, local Brid lad Richard Cresswell comes on for the last finve minutes, but the poor lad receives some abuse from the home fans who don’t think he is up to the task – perhaps not, as far as I am concerned he has been an integral part of our squad in the last two years, and deserves more respect from my fellow fans. He does more than enough in the five minutes he is on for.
The win gives us a huge lift to Premiership survival, and the relief and feeling at the end, by people like Abdoulaye Faye, Lawrence, Beattie and 25,000 fans is amazing. A huge weight lifts off the Brittannia and Abdoulaye Faye does a virtual lap of honour kissing the badge and thanking the crowd. He was immense today.
Thanks to everyone for the time I had, brilliant, and if there are any tickets left for one of the two remaining fixtures, count me in.
Oh and no luck in the raffle – lol.
Brid lose 2-1 at Thackley, after taking the lead too. Thackley admitted they had received intel (from Hallam) to target our keeper as he “is” the weakest link of the team, and unfortunately for Tom he apparently, didn’t help his doubters. Two games left, we have hit a poor run of results, which is a shame, because with the others faultering as well, we could really be fighting for top spot right now.
