More postponements in big freeze

Burton Albion and Stafford Rangers have been forced to postpone today’s Boxing Day fixtures due to frozen pitches.

In the Evo Stik First Division South all fixtures have been called off for Leek Town, Newcastle Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, scheduled to be played tomorrow (December 27).

Harrison Park Pic: Hampton Productions

Only Stoke City‘s trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers will go ahead.

Weather permitting, Vale travel to Gillingham and Burton take on Stevenage at the Pirelli on December 28, Stafford Rangers have a home tie against Worcester and Stoke entertain Fulham at the Britannia Stadium.

Leek, Newcastle and Kidsgrove will have to wait until New Years Day before they next attempt to play.

Leek and Kidsgrove clash at the Seddon Stadium whilst Newcastle make the short trip to Market Drayton Town.

North Staffs Football brings you the news about games that have been called off as soon as we get it. Let us know your score predictions.

Stoke City rue missed chances, says boss Tony Pulis

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has said his side have paid the price for squandering too many chances.

The Potters lost 1-0 to Blackpool at the Britannia Stadium thanks to Dudley Campbell’s second-half goal.

Pulis conceded after the match that it was ‘one of those days’.

Tony Pulis

He told BBC Sport: “We created more chances today (December 11) than we have done in other Premier League matches.

“We had opportunities and won every header from the corners but didn’t hit the target.”

Both sides squandered early chances in a goalless first-half.

Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones linked up well but the latter’s headed effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Blackpool found their feet in the game and came perilously close following Robert Huth’s slip.

The German’s mistake was picked up by Neil Eardley whose teasing cross was blocked by Andy Wilkinson, the rebound falling kindly to Campbell who lashed his volley wide.

Blackpool nearly broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time but were denied by Asmir Begovic who pulled off a superb one-handed save to deny Campbell.

There were chances for both sides at the start of the second-half, but it was the visitors that made sure of their opportunity.

Britannia Stadium

Ricardo Fuller failed to take advantage of a clear run on goal, and Blackpool countered the attack. Charlie Adam whipped in a teasing ball from the left and found Campbell prowling in the six-yard box with a simple tap-in from close range.

Stoke piled the pressure on, and hit the woodwork three times through Fuller, Etherington and Rory Delap but the visitors somehow managed to hold out.

Pulis said Blackpool’s ‘game of lottery’ worked for them.

He added: “They took their chances and won the game.

“Fair play to them, they have thrown the dice and their playing a game of lottery at times because they play very open and it came up trumps today.

“The lads worked hard – but I didn’t think it was going to be our day and it turned out that way.”

The result leaves the Potters in 11th place with a trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium to look forward to next week.

Did you go the game? Let North Staffs Football know your thoughts!

Stoke and Blackpool fans to give Sir Stanley Matthews minute’s silence

Stoke entertain newly-promoted Blackpool tomorrow (December 11) and one man will be at the forefront of both sets of fans minds at the Britannia Stadium, writes Matthew Appleby.

Sir Stanley Matthews notched up a massive 701 league appearance with both clubs spanning a 33-year period and there will be a minute’s silence prior to kick-off in remembrance of the winger.

Britannia Stadium

Blackpool lie three points behind Stoke in the Premier League table and will be hoping that they can draw level with the Potters in what could be their first top-flight match between the two sides since 1971.

Jermaine Pennant and Andy Wilkinson have both recovered from injuries after missing the 2-2 draw with Wigan, and Marc Wilson will also be available after serving his one-match ban.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway will be without top scorer Marlon Harewood, who is still out with a hamstring injury but Alex Baptiste and Ludovic Sylvestre are pushing for starts for the Seasiders.

Tony Pulis’s men are unbeaten in their last five games and have a good record against the Lancashire outfit, remaining unbeaten in their last seven league encounters.

Matthew Etherington will pose a threat after scoring in each of his last three league games and the 29 year-old will become the first player for Stoke to score four matches in a row in Premier League history should he net on Saturday.

Blackpool’s star man Charlie Adam will be hoping to celebrate his birthday in style, after turning 25 this week, but a win for the Potters could keep the talk of European football next season going.

Stoke City chairman starts 20k Olympics fund

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has pledged £20k to help local athletes acheive their Olympic dream.

And the club are urging athletes to apply for a share of the money providing they live or compete in North Staffordshire and represent Great Britain or a Home Country.

The fund has received the support of Stoke-on-Trent hockey ace Imran Sherwani, who won Gold at the Seoul 1998 Olympics.

Peter Coates

Sherwani will comprise part of the panel of judges that will decide which athletes are considered worthy of financial support, in order to help them gain selection for the 2012 London Games.

Coates said: “We consider it very important to support sporting talent in other fields who have the potential to bring further recognition to the area.

“We have seen as a club that sporting success can generate a feel good factor within North Staffordshire and we hope this funding will help others to acheive that too.

“There has been a big squeeze on funding due to cutbacks, so I am sure this money will make a massive difference to the needs of individuals and if there are local companies who want to support it they would be very welcome.”

Applications must be made by Friday 31st December and should be sent to the North Staffordshire 2012 Aspiring Athlete Fund, Stoke City Football Club, Britannia Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent.

Let North Staffs Football know your thoughts about a particular athlete that should benefit from this scheme.

Stoke City boss urges fans not get carried away with European Cup hopes

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has called for fans not to get carried away after their 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic.

The Potters have been in superb form after wins over West Brom, Liverpool and Birmingham, a run which has lifted them from relegation worries upto only five points off an elusive European Cup spot.

And there are talks starting to circulate the ground that the Potters could find themselves in a European Cup place come the end of the season.

Pulis said: “People will always get carried away but we are bobbing along nicely at the moment.

“We have a good spirit in the team which has always been there but we have added a little bit more quality to it and we look more of a threat going forward.”

The Potters next match will be at the Britannia on Saturday (Dec 11) will be against Blackpool. Kick-off is 3.00pm

Can Stoke finish in a European Cup spot this year? Or are we building our hopes up? Let North Staffs Football know and leave a comment below.

Stoke City look at young Swedish midfielder

Stoke City are in talks with Swedish youngster Smajl Suljevic in a bid to snap up the midfielder during the January transfer window.

The 16-year-old is reported to have already agreed terms in a two-year deal at the Britannia Stadium, following a successful two week trial.

Tony Pulis revealed to the clubs website that despite more terms to agree he is hopeful of bringing the Dalkurd star to the Potteries.

Tony Pulis

He added: “I’ve left it to the academy lads – they think he is a good player and we have just backed him really.

“We have had a number of players on trials just to see how their react to English football.

“We are also making a massive effort to get our own players through the system and into the team, and it is something we will continue to concentrate on in the next few years.”

Stoke City travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Kick-off is 3.00pm.

Weekend round-up as non-league side’s freeze

The weekend’s cold snap, with below-freezing temperatures and snow for some caused havoc for Saturday football matches.

Officials across the county have had to call a number of games off due to frozen pitches as temperatures as low as minus 7C hit Staffordshire.

In the Evo-Stik First Division South, Leek Town‘s charity match against Glapwell was postponed as freezing weather in Mansfield left officials with no choice but to call the game off.

Cold snap puts a freeze on matches

Stafford Rangers ‘s match at Harrogate Town also fell foul to the weather and was cancelled following a pitch inspection at 8.30am on Saturday (November 27) morning due to a frozen pitch.

 

Newcastle Town‘s trip to Belper Town was cancelled after a 9.00am pitch inspection due to a frozen pitch – in which Belper’s ground was under four inches of snow.

Kidsgrove Athletic‘s match at Shepshed Dynamo was also ruled out after a 10.30am pitch inspection.

Stoke City kept their game on against Manchester City and salvaged a point at the Britannia Stadium thanks to Matthew Etherington’s injury-time goal.

After a goalless first-half the visitors looked to have nicked all three points through Micah Richards’s superb strike, but Etherington latched onto Tuncay Sanli’s back-heel to smash the ball into the net.

In League Two there was better news for Crewe fans who made the trip to Lancashire-outfit Morecambe.

Clayton Donaldson fired Alex into an early lead four minutes in, and Byron Moore doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Morecambe halved the deficit through Chris Shuker but plaudits go to Alex stopper Rhys Taylor who saved Phil Jevons’s penalty to give Dario Gradi’s men all three points.

Burton Albion progressed to the lucrative third-round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win at the Pirelli against Chesterfield.

Aaron Webster and Jacques Maghoma sent the Brewers into a 2-0 lead at half-time, but Chesterfield made it a nervy end after Jordan Bowery’s late strike.

The match was sealed though as James Collins broke past the visitors defence and curled the ball around the Spireites keeper.

Port Vale were in action on Friday night (November 26) but they scraped into the third-round as well with a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley, thanks to Justin Richards’s first-half strike.

Did you go to any of the games? Let North Staffs Football know what you think and listen to our weekend report below:
http://www.onmvoice.com/player/player.swf?a=34905&ap=0&color=default

Curzon Ashton Football Club, who play in the Evo-Stik Premier Division have their own way of combating the freezing conditions:

Stoke see off Liverpool for second-successive win

Second-half goals from Ricardo Fuller and Kenywne Jones helped Stoke City see off Liverpool and record their second win of the week at the Britannia Stadium, writes Ted Woodward.

The Potters started the game brightly and their combination of fast flowing football and Rory Delaps deadly long-throws caused the Liverpool defence problems.

In a first-half not short of controversy, referee Mark Halsey denied Stoke what appeared to be a good penalty shout as Maxi Rodriguez appeared to push Ricardo Fuller inside the Liverpool penalty area.

Rory Delap

Soon after, Steven Gerrard’s 30-yard strike and a low drive from Raul Meireles forced good saves from Stoke’s stopper Asmir Begovic.

The breakthrough came 11 minutes into the second-half as another thunderbolt throw-in from Rory Delap provided the opening goal.

The former Irish international’s throw was poorly dealt with by the Liverpool defence and was allowed to rattle around the area before Ricardo Fuller poked home his third goal of the season.

The two teams continued to exchange attempts but with Fernando Torres largely non-existent Liverpool were left with little attacking zest.

Maxi Rodriguez did his best to bring the scores level but his effort was fired straight into the arms of Begovic.

Tony Pulis’s men were able to wrap up the victory in the 90th minute when Jermaine Pennant slipped through Jones who calmly side-footed the ball past Jose Reina.

A frustrating afternoon for Liverpool was summed up when Lucas Leiva was sent-off for a second-bookable offence.

The win seals Stoke’s first against Liverpool in 26 years, sees The Potters climb into the top half of the table.

Let North Staffs Football know what you thought of the game and the result.

Stoke City hope to build on midweek win

Stoke City entertain an in-form Liverpool side at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday (Nov 13), writes James Hale.

The Potters managed to secure an excellent 3-2 win over rivals Birmingham City midweek and it was a much needed win for the Potters having not tasted success since the opening week of October.

The result means that Tony Pulis’s men go into the game sitting16th in the Premier League.

Liverpool visit North Staffordshire on the back of a recent run of good form which has seen them rise to 9th in the Premier league.

Fernando Torres

More ominously for Stoke City, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres (pictured) appears to have recaptured his goal-scoring prowess, having scored three in his last two appearances.

Liverpool have won four of their last five matches in all competitions while Stoke have recorded just one victory in six.

However the Potters are likely to go into the game on a new found self belief following their last gasp victory last time out. Liverpool meanwhile stuttered to a score draw at Wigan Athletic.

Victory for Stoke could see them rise into the top half of the table, victory for visitors Liverpool could see them rise into the European Cup positions.

North Staffs football predicts a 1-1 draw.

Let us know what you think the result will be by voting in our poll below.

Pulis urges fans to ‘raise the roof’ for Birmingham clash

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has called for fans to ‘raise the roof’ as they look to break their run of five-successive defeats against Birmingham City tonight (Nov 9).

The Potters will also be without the services of Ryan Shawcross, who serves a one-match suspension after his sending off against Sunderland.

Pulis said: “We need the fans behind us tonight.

Tony Pulis

“It is a massive game for us, and what concerns me is that we have played well in the last five games but have nothing to show for it.

“We have got to stay strong and hope the luck changes – we need to go out there and get the result we need.”

Robert Huth is set to take over Shawcross’s role with either Danny Higginbotham or Andy Wilkinson coming into what is expected to be an otherwise unchanged side.

Birmingham enter the match on the back of three-successive draws but have beaten Stoke three times out of the last four at the Britannia Stadium.

Blues boss Alex McLeish could recall Craig Gardner and Jean Beausejour who both features in their 2-2 draw with West Ham United on Saturday.

Britannia Stadium

Defeat for McLeish’s men tonight would be their 100^th loss in the Premier League but the record books are with them as the Potters last-top flight win against Birmingham came in March 1984.

Last season the teams battled out a goalless draw at St. Andrews and Stoke lost 1-0 at the Brit.

The referee for tonight’s clash is Mark Clattenburg, who was in the centre of the Nani goal debate in Manchester United’s recent clash with Tottenham on October 30.

Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Expected line-up: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Faye, Collins, Whitehead, Wilson, Pennant, Etherington, Walters, Jones

To see Stoke fans in good voice at last season’s clash with Bimingham click below: