Ince makes ’em wince
THE last time Tom Ince scored against Charlton, Stoke were heading for trouble.
Six months on and his second goal of a lean season sees Stoke on the up and threatening to leave Charlton behind in the relegation battle.
In between, Ince has suffered ex-potters boss Nathan Jones baffling him with tactical ideas.
Now his instructions are clear from successor Michael O’neill: Get down the wing, take people on, score goals.
Ince did all that this time.
They lost 3-1 at the Valley in the second game of the season at the start of a plunge that had them heading for relegation.
Stoke are reviving under O’neill, now five points clear of the Championship relegation zone, and Ince, who cost the Potters £10million less than two years ago, is thriving.
But Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has got big problems.
He is next to the relegation zone with a fourpoint cushion and only two
STOKE wins in his last 19 league games. Bowyer said: “It wasn’t good enough.
“Stoke were better than us, they looked hungrier, they outfought us and that doesn’t happen too often.
“There were too many players who had an off day at the same time – and then we have no chance.
“It’s tight at the bottom but I trust my players.”
What Charlton’s defence was doing in the 28th minute is uncertain, but they did not react when Sam Clucas’s free-kick found Nick Powell at the far post. Powell headed down and there was no movement from Charlton as James Mcclean poked in his sixth goal of the season.
Stoke could have had more, didn’t get them, and paid for it a minute into added time.
Andre Green’s cross found Stoke’s concentration low and Ben Purrington got in front of Tommy Smith to slide in and get a surprise equaliser.
Stoke quickly put that right. Two minutes into the second half they were ahead again, Joe Allen threading a pass for Ince to turn smartly and score. Again Charlton were dozy in defence, particularly Tom Lockyer.
Powell got in front of him to meet Smith’s cross and Stoke had it won.
Stoke had been thrashed 4-0 last time out at Derby and O’neill admitted:
“There was a bit of doom and gloom after that result – but we’ve won three out of four.”
CHARLTON