Red-card Joe sinks Nathan
STOKE CITY: went in on Bristol City’s Josh Brownhill, foot up, and got his marching orders.
Jones questioned ref Geoff Eltringham’s decision and Stoke are considering appealing the red card.
“It’s an amber one, it’s not a clear cut red card, it’s not an obvious error by the referee,” said Jones. “But Allen going off made a difference, 100 per cent.”
When Bristol City failed to clear Tom Edwards’ corner, Bruno Martins Indi set up Clucas for his 12-yard left-footed shot that had Jones dancing with delight.
Then Clucas had a chance blocked, James McClean had a better one saved and crisis mode was threatening again when Stoke should have been reasonably content.
Instead Jack Butland had to keep out an Andreas Weimann shot and Stoke’s 10 men had a long day in front of them.
Lee Johnson took off a defender and put another forward on but didn’t break through until the 55th minute when Jack Hunt dodged McLean, crossed, and Famara Diedhiou climbed highest to head in.
Seven minutes later Hunt did it again. Cameron Carter-Vickers went up with Robins sub Niclas Eliasson for the cross, the ball going in off Edwards despite Liam Lindsay’s attempt to clear.
Johnson said: “At half time there were definitely a few mini hand grenades dropped because we had to stoke the fire more. We got away with one today.”
BRISTOLCITY 4 ........ Shots on Target .........3 5 ........ Shots off Target .........6 6 ................Corners ................. 7 13 ................. Fouls .................. 12 2 ............... Offsides ................. 2 70.4... Passing Success % ...80.5 274 ....... Total Passes ......... 519 35.7 ........Possession ........ 64.3 49.4 .Territorial Adv % ..50.6