Match Review: Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Standing at six foot seven inches the only people Peter Crouch looked up at before playing against Everton was the famous 100 club. The 26 players past and present that have reached 100 premier league goals.
It took him just seven minutes, a magnificent ball over the top from Charlie Adam found Marko Arnautovic’s left wing run, he then prodded it across the goal finding that skinny outstretched leg and the rest was literally history. Peter Crouch’s 100th Premier League goal, our first striker to reach the landmark. 1-0 Stoke.
The game started brightly and Stoke outplayed Everton for the majority, with two glorious one on one situations for Arnautovic it could have been 3-0 before the break, but it wasn’t meant to be. Great runs from Charlie Adam, Bardsley and even Glen Whelan saw opportunities to increase the lead but the next goal had to be Everton’s. They had their own chances in the game, nothing worth talking about but the goal came against the run of play, not without it’s controversy of course. There’s always controversy when Stoke are involved.
The ball was played down the right channel to Kevin Mirallas, he cut inside and fired the ball in to the far corner, the ball deflected in off an evasive Shawcross sending Lee Grant the wrong way. Immediately the offside flag was raised and Stoke fans cheers swallowed up Everton fans noise, but the joy was short lived. After a brief conversation with the linesman the goal was given, Stoke had to go again.
Clever play by Charlie Adam, attempting his weekly half-way line challenge seemed to trouble Joel Robles for a second, the fans behind the goal on their feet waiting for the net to ripple but the theme of the night prevailed. It wasn’t meant to be.
Our new number nine got his moment too, replacing Arnautovic; Saido Berahino made his long awaited debut. Once again Charlie Adam lofted an inch perfect ball over the top finding his feet but impressive defending and lucky goalkeeping stopped a potential debut goal and the game ended soon after 1-1 the final score.
A point at home against a team which really should be emerging in to the top five of the Premier League isn’t too bad, but most fans seemed disappointed. Doesn’t that show you how far we have come in just a few years?
Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Jordan Cleaver
@cleaverjordan
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