TYE IS STOKE’S MAIN GUY TO SECURE SURVIVAL
STOKE City produced a full throttle performance to beat Southampton and seal their place in the Championship.
It was Tyrese Campbell who got the all-important breakthrough goal a few minutes before half-time when he showed a combination of skill and acceleration to get behind the Southampton defence and find the bottom corner.
Stoke defended fiercely and in numbers as rain hammered down at St Mary’s and yet they might have scored more themselves too, with Josh Laurent, Million Manhoef and Niall Ennis all going close.
At the other end, they limited chances against a side that is resigned to the play-offs and it was the away end that made all the noise from first whistle to last.
Steven Schumacher has found a way of producing probably the best two performances of his time in charge in two crucial games - his first back-to-back wins as manager - to win their battle against relegation.
No matter about results elsewhere, they did what they needed to do themselves and players have used every ounce of energy they have had in their bodies, collapsing to their knees at full-time as a sell-out away end roared out a Delilah.
Schumacher had named an unchanged XI from the 3-0 win over Plymouth a week previously, demanding the same tempo - and getting it through a superb first-half performance.
Stoke were full of energy and fight, charging with full commitment into the press as Southampton tried to play it out from the back. There were some close calls, particularly when Laurent got into full steam closing down Alex Mccarthy.
They should have been 1-0 up in the sixth minute when Enda Stevens slipped a delightful angled pass for Campbell to get behind and Campbell hit his shot across Mccarthy, who could only respond with a parry.
Laurent was storming in to take advantage and it looked like he couldn’t quite believe that he could only steer the rebound wide.
Million Manhoef slapped a shot down the middle too as Southampton were trying to catch their breath and he had another shot blocked after being set up by Bae Junho when Stoke won possession high up the pitch. Ki-jana Hoever was sprinting to offer a better option on the overlap but just couldn’t quite catch up with play in time.
Not that it was all Stoke. Luke Mcnally had to clear off his own line when Sekou Mara looped an
effort over Daniel Iversen when the visitors had been caught out by a relatively straight ball down the middle, a nemesis for them too often this season. Iversen was caught in two minutes and ended up clattering Mara, and taking a whack on his own thigh in the process. Southampton wanted a penalty, Iversen limped away - and he was soon called upon to make a near post save against David Brooks.
But Stoke did find a breakthrough in the 38th minute. Campbell took Hoever’s long pass forward down on the inside right channel and Taylor Harwood-bellis paced over thinking he knew how to deal with him in this situation, showing him onto his right foot. Campbell stood up to his old teammate like a duel, then a sudden burst and he was heading towards the six-yard box to dispatch a shot past Mccarthy and inside the far post.
That was only Campbell’s second
goal of what has been a difficult stop-start season for him and the team but he has led the line with aggression in a crucial fortnight and, in this instance, no little skill. The away end went berserk.
Stoke were pushed back and then further back after the break but, although pressure was growing, Manhoef should have put the Potters well in control. Laurent hammered up the right wing and found Campbell, who had pulled right to pick out unmarked Manhoef about seven yards from goal in the middle. Mccarthy spread himself and made the save while Manhoef sunk into the ground in disbelief that he hadn’t poked it home.
Then Campbell produced a brilliant moment of skill to spin behind the defence and had his legs taken as he was about to shoot and seemingly about to score. It looked a clear penalty and the away end, players and staff were in shock that David
Webb waved play on.
It would have been cruel minutes later if Webb had whistled when Cundle tackled Samuel Edozie rather clumsily on the corner of the area after the winger had wriggled past Thompson, who had only just moved to left-back when Stevens had been replaced by Wouter Burger. No penalty. Or when Burger spread himself and took Che Adams’ shot close range into his midriff and possibly an arm just after that. No penalty.
Manhoef, serenaded by the visiting fans, maintained a serious threat and his right footer was saved before he nicked a shot just past the post from the edge of the box. Junior Tchamadeu set up Niall Ennis for a good chance too and were again denied by Mccarthy.
But they didn’t need a second, this was a brilliant away performance and win that deserved the ovation it received.