Hughes’ faith is justified and Stoke are upwardly mobile
TWO of Stoke’s more unfashionable players were instrumental in maintaining their surge up the table as a couple of exquisite goals saw off travel-sick Burnley.
Republic of Ireland striker Jon Walters struck in the Premier League for the first time in nine months, while Marc Muniesa, until last week more commonly seen in the club’s Under-23 EFL Cup team this season, broke a three-year duck by scoring on his 50th top-flight appearance.
It took Stoke’s tally to six points from two outings since injury to captain Ryan Shawcross prompted manager Mark Hughes to turn to a 3-4-3 formation.
An unchanged XI meant Joe Allen, available again following suspension, started on the bench alongside Wilfried Bony and Bojan.
The gamble paid off with Stoke two goals clear inside 35 minutes and cantering to a fifth win in seven matches. They are now nestled in the top half of the division.
Burnley, whose single point on the road came at Old Trafford, were opened up by a slick one-two between Xherdan Shaqiri and Mame Biram Diouf, who crossed for Walters, wearing the armband in Shawcross’ absence, to cushion an instinctive volley into the far top corner.
That 20th-minute opener was followed when Muniesa, who joined the club from Barcelona in July 2013, doubled their lead. Instigating the move by stepping out with the ball from the back, he laid off to Giannelli Imbula and made a second, telling contribution by dashing 60 yards to convert Marko Arnautovic’s centre with a first-time finish.
‘The first one was a great strike, a striker’s instinct. It was at a good height when it came across but all good strikers have an understanding of where the goal is in those situations and he clearly deflected it intentionally,’ said Hughes.
Burnley’s second-half resurgence threatened to eat into the advantage and their manager Sean Dyche lambasted referee Mark Clattenburg for not dismissing Muniesa nine minutes after the re-start for grappling with Andre Gray.
‘He’s a good referee,’ said Dyche. ‘But I didn’t think he was so good today. We didn’t get anything.’