IT’S RAMADAN AT CHRISTMAS ... MUCH TO SPARKY’S DELIGHT
STOKE CITY’S manager and supporters were hailing Ramadan at Christmas following this entertaining draw. Ramadan Sobhi, the Egyptian international, had come off the bench and scored a deserved 60th-minute equaliser to cancel out Tom Ince’s first-half opener, his first goal for Huddersfield. For long periods it looked as though the Potters were heading for a sixth defeat in eight until Ramadan Sobhi’s second goal in as many games. But a penalty shout for each side — both turned down by referee Anthony Taylor — prompted a festive tiff between the managers. First, Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy was taken down in the area by Joe Allen. ‘He didn’t have control of the ball, it was never a penalty,’ was Stoke boss Mark Hughes’s verdict. ‘Maybe when he has seen the video he will correct his opinion,’ responded David Wagner, Town’s manager. Stoke thought they had a spot-kick when sub Mame Diouf had his leg taken away by Christopher Schindler in the box. ‘It was a clear penalty — the referee needs to give it,’ Hughes said. There was no argument from Wagner here. ‘I thought maybe it was a penalty,’ said Wagner. ‘We’re even.’ With the novelty of the Premier League nowhere near evaporating for promoted side Huddersfield, the John Smith’s Stadium was once again noisy. The crowd are part of Wagner’s plan, and his men fed off their energy, taking the lead after just 10 minutes when Ince slotted home Collin Quaner’s touchline pull-back. Ince had not scored in the Premier League since February 2014, and he had registered 44 shots without joy so far this season. There was no missing his 45th. ‘He’s been very good,’ said Wagner. ‘In terms of end product we expect more.’ Stoke were buoyed from Saturday’s morale-boosting 3-1 victory over West Brom and came close to levelling four times in a mad minute. ‘It upped our chance creation number,’ joked Hughes. The Welshman was further frustrated when captain Ryan Shawcross was forced to
depart through a calf injury moments later. ‘That’s the way it’s been for us,’ Hughes said. Following the half-time break, and with the first audible frustration coming from the away end, Allen, once again standing out in his advanced midfield role, went on a surging run down the left, played a neat one-two with Maxim Choupo-Moting and crossed low for sub Ramadan to tap in. ‘He’s been immense,’ Hughes said of Allen. ‘Absolutely magnificent since he walked into the building.’ All of a sudden, Delilah was belted out from those who had made the journey from Staffordshire. Then came the penalty shouts that had both managers laughing no more.