EARN PRECIOUS POINT
it to be deflected wide for a goal-kick.
Powell was coming to the fore as Stoke’s biggest chance and he hit the post when he brought down a flick from Gregory with his right foot and shot with his left.
“I’ve been impressed with Gregory despite that missed chance,” said Liam Lawrence, on Radio Stoke duty. “It was a good flick and the angle is really tight but it hits the post and goes out. Stoke are showing the stomach for a fight.”
That fight and build-up in pressure paid off in the 65th minute with an equaliser.
Mcclean collected a short free-kick on the left and whipped in a super cross for Batth to steam in through the middle of the six-yard box and hammer in a diving header.
It was a vital goal, Batth’s fourth of the season, and his charge to meet it would be interesting to clock on the speedometer. There was little doubt, it is fair to say, just how much he wanted it.
Stoke had the momentum if either team was going to hunt a winner, but that took a dent when O’neill was forced to take off Powell, who has been nursing a calf injury. Jordan Thompson came on for the final 15 minutes in central midfield.
Yet they remained a threat at set-pieces, which have been stepped up a notch since the re-start – and Batth is the man who wants to get on the end of all of them.
He was unlucky not to get his second when he thundered onto a corner from Clucas and forced Bentley into a fine flying save underneath his own crossbar.
But all the drama was at the other end following the final drinks break, even if Bristol City never managed to find a clear shot.
Stoke defenders were prepared to throw their bodies in the way of anything that moved – at times very eagerly, with all eyes on Linington about any potential penalty calls.
Clucas and Smith and Mcclean were all injured at various points but ran themselves into the ground and, at the final whistle, 20 players from both teams hit the deck, having given everything they had.
It has been more than 12 months of preparation, action, drama, sackings, heart-in-mouth moments and now they are 180 minutes away from the end.
Stoke have reached the 50-point barrier and that looked a long way away when O’neill took charge in November. Two more matches.