Bannan’s class has Gaz feeling travel sick
GARY ROWETT admits Stoke City have only themselves to blame for not registering their first away league win of the season.
The Potters were 2-0 up after just 22 minutes and missed a host of chances to put the game to bed before a moment of class from Barry Bannan rescued a point for the hosts.
Rowett’s promotion favourites are still winless on the road but the manager says the performance was proof his side is getting its act together.
He said: “It’s two points dropped. For 30 minutes we were in full control of that game and when you are so dominant the one thing you cannot do is give them an easy way back into it, like we did for their first goal.
“We created even more chances in the second half and we should have gone on and won that comfortably.
“The start to the season has been disappointing, but this was more like what we are capable of playing like.”
The visitors got off to the perfect start when they were ahead after just 80 seconds.
Peter Etobo broke from midfield and found Mame Diouf on the edge of the box. His lay-off was perfect for £12million man Benik Afobe to sidefoot into the roof of the net from six yards.
Afobe continued to pay off a huge slice of his hefty transfer fee when he doubled his side’s lead on 22 minutes, poking the ball home from close range – his fourth goal of the season.
The Potters were cruising but the home side were handed a lifeline two minutes later when Bannan’s pass was chested down by Steven Fletcher and Marco Matias slotted home.
Stoke missed a host of chances in the second half to put the result beyond doubt and were punished eight minutes from time when Bannan curled a 20-yard free-kick in off the post.
Wednesday manager Jos Luhukay said: “They are a fantastic team and they played some great football, but I think we showed them too much respect. Without Barry Bannan we would not have got anything from this game. It’s a great point.”