ERROR PROVES COSTLY AS POTTERS SLIP TO DEFEAT
A SILLY mistake cost Stoke City again as they fell to another home defeat to Coventry.
The first goal always seemed vital in a reasonably tight match and Stoke had survived a frantic first-half scramble and built up pressure of their own, although they got away long rangers and had shots blocked rather than really work Ben Wilson.
But they let the game slip when Kijana Hoever was pressed into a trap midway through the second half and Callum O’hare combined with Ellis Simms, who beat Jack Bonham for what proved the winner.
Stoke had territory and possession through the closing stages and got away 13 shots in all but only one on target. They were applauded off but there was disappointment on the faces of players who have lost too many games in similar fashion this season.
This result draws them back to just three points above the relegation zone thanks to QPR’S win at Bristol City. Their fate is still in their own hands but they need to get enough points for themselves without having to look at results elsewhere.
Steven Schumacher said: “I thought it was quite a close game, quite tight. There wasn’t a lot in it and it was just an error that’s decided it, which is obviously disappointing from our point of view.
“I can’t fault the players, I thought they gave everything. I think the players who started, competed to try to keep a really good Coventry team relatively quiet. Then I think the substitutes who came on in the last half an hour gave us some energy and we played with a good tempo but unfortunately just that one moment just decided it.”
He added: “It’s important that we don’t lose our belief. It’s not the end of the world. I understand no-one wants to lose games of football, you don’t want to come in here and accept that we lose another game at home, far from it.
“But the fans will accept it if the players give 100 per cent and we definitely did do that today. Now it’s just getting back in on Monday, get your heads up and let’s go again.
“We’ve got three points from the last three games, which isn’t brilliant form but it’s form that replicates a team in the bottom half the league where we are so get on with it, get into the next game and see if we can win that one.”
Schumacher made six changes to his starting XI. Daniel Iversen and Luke Mcnally missed out with a dead leg and thigh injury respectively while Wouter Burger, Niall Ennis, Bae Junho and Junior Tchamadeu dropped to the bench at the end of a three-game week. Schumacher has been utilising his squad to try to find a winning formula over the last month but it was a surprise to see quite so many changes after such a big, albeit physically-demanding, win in midweek.
Still, Stoke were again tight and compact in a 3-4-2-1 and genuine chances in that first half were few and far between. Lewis Baker had a 25-yarder blocked when the ball was just too much in front of him that it gave Coventry a chance to get in the way. Josh Laurent had a shot intercepted too after a quick Stoke counter following a Coventry corner.
Stoke survived a frenetic scramble at the other end which started with Haji Wright beating Ben Wilmot to a back post header. Jack Bonham saved high and then saved twice, low, when the rebound fell to Ellis Simms. Callum O’hare was steaming in for the next free hit but his shot cracked into Wilmot, who did a Superman impression under the bar, and ricocheted into the post and out. Michael Rose needed to be alert to take control of a Jay Dasilva cut-back just before half-time.
Baker had Stoke’s first shot on target shortly after the break, an ambitious low drive from outside the box, but Coventry were dangerous on the break and Wright might have done better with a left foot cracker that ended up high in the away end.
But the visitors didn’t have to wait long for their breakthrough and the all-important first goal. Hoever was pressed into coming inside into numbers with the ball and he lost control under pressure from Wright. O‘hare nicked it quickly to unmarked Simms and he wellied it past Bonham. A silly mistake ruthlessly punished before Stoke could even react.
Schumacher soon made a triple sub, throwing on Junho, Burger and Tchamadeu, with demoralising cheers as Hoever made his exit. Baker had a shot deflected over as he danced into the area looking for an equaliser. Rose sent a couple of headers over from corners and Million Manhoef hit the side netting after a driving run.
Wright should have put the game to bed for Coventry when he advanced from the half-way line and played a one-two with Josh Eccles as attackers outnumbered defenders – but he blazed the return pass over the bar.
But one goal always seemed like it was going to be enough and Stoke are back frantically trying to work out if they can score enough to get the points they will need to stay up.