Good start not to Bee
NATHAN JONES insisted there is no quick fix for struggling Stoke.
The former Luton boss was left shell-shocked as Brentford ruined his first game in charge.
A slapstick own goal from Ryan Shawcross plus strikes from Said Benrahma and a first club goal for
Rico Henry did the damage.
Jones, brought in after Gary Rowett was sacked for failing to keep Stoke in the promotion shake-up, said:
“I have only been in two days, so we can’t revolutionise the place in that time.
“We came here with a brave shape and asked the team to do certain things but we didn’t have the best start, conceding a poor goal from a set play.
“Moving forward we want to be positive and play a certain way. We want to build something here, we are a work in progress.”
Delighted Bees boss Thomas Frank said: “That is the best performance since I became head coach.
“We were dominant and in control. Even a worldie – one of two shots for them – didn’t affect us.
“We needed others to step up and get goals to help Neal Maupay, and they did.
“As regards Nathan, we say as coaches you can’t create magic. Stoke are where they are because things needed doing. But he has a philosophy and system, and I am sure he will turn things around.”
Jones made four changes and opted for his favoured diamond formation, but Bees led after just seven minutes.
Benrahma, teed up by Maupay, drew a scrambling save from Jack Butland and from Benrahma’s set-piece a scramble ended with Benik Afobe smashing the ball into Shawcross and back into the net.
Maupay, with 16 goals this term and a £20million price tag, drew another desperate save, but after 17 minutes Romaine Sawyers set up Benrahma and he coolly fired home for only his second league goal of the campaign.
Six minutes later Afobe lashed in his ninth of the season, but Stoke were forced on the defensive again when Ashley Williams denied Maupay as he was about to pull the trigger.
At the break Jones tweaked the formation and brought on Peter Etebo for Saido Berahino, but after 54 minutes Henry buried a 25-yard shot into the bottom corner while Maupay and Ollie Watkins hit the woodwork late on.
Next up in the league for Stoke are Leeds.
Jones said: “I don’t want to get into the spying, really, but I echo some of the views already expressed.
“We want skulduggery kept to a minimum and etiquette maintained.”