Surridge is an instant hit in five-goal Potters’ thriller

NEW boy Sam Surridge needed just 12 minutes to make the perfect impact at Stoke and earn his first pat on the back from Potters boss Michael O’Neill.

The £2.5million signing from Bournemouth has been recruited for his attacking flair.

Judging by the way he spotted Mario Vrancic’s clever dummy to run on to the ball and tuck it past Rafael Cabral, the signs are good.

It decided a contest which saw Stoke led twice through Nick Powell and Jacob Brown only to be pegged back by John

Swift and Liam Moore before Surridge’s contribution.

O’Neill said: “I’m delighted. The winning goal was well built from the back and a great finish from Sam.

“It was a great game to win. Apparently it was the first time in 11 years that we’ve won on the opening day so we’ve got rid of that skeleton.”

Three goals in four minutes halfway through the first half had both sets of fans on the edge of their seats.

Powell put Stoke in front, Swift levelled and Brown made it 2-1 to the Potters.

After 61 minutes a Swift corner met the head of galloping captain Moore to level again.

O’Neill decided to throw on fresh legs and Surridge duly delivered.

Reading boss Veljko Paunovic said: “At 2-2 we lost our momentum. Parts of the game were very good. We should have had at least one point.”

STOKE: Bursik 7; Wilmot 6, Batth 6, Fox 6; Tymon

7 (Doughty 78th), Powell 8 (Clucas (72nd) 5), Allen

7, Vrancic 7 (Thompson 88th), Smith 7; Fletcher 7 (Surridge (72nd) 6), Brown 6

READING: Cabral 6; Yiadom 6, Morrison 7, Moore 7, Bristow 6; Rinomhota, Laurent; Swift 8 (Tetek 76th), Bristow, Azeez 6 (Holmes 87th); Joao 6 (Puscas 76th)

STAR MAN: Nick Powell

REF: M Donohue