‘WHAT LEE GAVE TO THE TEAM WAS FIRST CLASS’
MICHAEL O’neill has praised Lee Gregory for his efforts on his return to the side as the manager plans for tomorrow’s game at home to promotion-chasing Brentford (12.30pm).
Stoke are looking to finish the season on a high after reaching 50 points with Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
O’neill has plenty to consider as Stoke assess Nick Powell and Sam Clucas who both had to come off in the second half with injuries.
He’s hoping both will be fit and also has to weigh up his options in attack having brought in Gregory at Ashton Gate for his first league start since December.
Tyrese Campbell had been playing on the right of a front three but he was dropped to the bench as Gregory came in to partner Sam Vokes in a front two.
Whatever selection decision O’neill makes for the Brentford game, he says former Millwall striker Gregory did his case no harm with his performance.
He said: “He did really well. Maybe just in front of goal he was lacking that little bit of sharpness. He had two good opportunities where he was in one-on-one so he will be disappointed that he didn’t do better then.
“But what he gave the team was top class
– his work rate and his running power and he linked very well with Sam. I thought as a front two they did very well and gave us both a physical presence and a real threat at the top end of the pitch.
“I am delighted for him. He has had to be patient because, when we have played with one through the middle, we have opted for Vokesy as the first choice with Tyrese off the right.
“So, when we went with the two it was good for Lee to get the opportunity.”
Clucas and Powell were forced off at Ashton Gate, as O’neill explained: “They are both injuries. They are both tight. They are both players who, under any circumstance, you wouldn’t take them off unless you were well ahead in the game. Both are in a situation where we kept them on as long as possible and we just hope they will be available for Saturday.”
Stoke face a Brentford side who have won all seven of their games since the season resumed to move within a point of secondplaced West Brom.
But O’neill is determined his team should finish the season strongly in their final two games – against the Bees, then away to fifthplaced Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Stoke boss wasn’t taking his own team’s survival for granted after the hard-fought draw at Ashton Gate lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone. He’s just focusing on them finishing the season strongly in two difficult games. He said: “Brentford are a very good team with a lot to play for so we have to deal with that. We have been good at home and there is no reason why we can’t beat Brentford at home but it will be very tough.”
MICHAEL BAGGALEY