Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City secures an important win over Sunderland
Alex Neil made a point of noting Stoke City supporters’ patience for a team in transition as they picked up a vital win over Sunderland.
It has been a huge rebuilding job at Stoke over the last few months but, after one win in their previous eight league matches, Neil knew they had to deliver come what may when his old team came to town on Saturday. It helped that he was able to bring back five players from injury, including Ryan Mmaee – who got the opening goal; Andre Vidigal, and Enda Stevens, who was named captain as Josh Laurent dropped to the bench.
Former Stoke loanee Jack Clarke equalized almost immediately but Luke McNally’s header at the start of the second half proved the winner and lifted Stoke to within six points of Sunderland heading into Wednesday’s home game against Leeds (8 pm kick-off).
Neil said: “We had 11 players on the pitch and some had previously had no time together on the pitch, and some had maybe spent 45 minutes together. I think you can see that we’re very much a team in transition. That’s frustrating for me because in the Championship you have to win games. I understand that.
“Our fans have been great with us against Southampton, Leicester and again today and I think they understand where we are as a club. It can sometimes be frustrating because you want your club to win every game, you want to be really successful, you want to push on and be further up the league and naturally, we want to be further up the league than what we are.
“But I think we need to recognize where we currently are and that we do have great potential. I thought today for large spells, particularly in the first half, I thought we were very good. Then I thought again once we scored the second goal, for probably about a 15, 20-minute spell, I thought we were very good and probably should have finished the game off.
“Naturally Sunderland then piled pressure on us at the end of the game. We had to cling on but I think those games are the best ones to win. You need to really dig in and you come off with a real feeling of satisfaction.”
Surreally, Stevens – who signed in July – was the longest-serving Stoke player in the starting XI, although Ben Pearson and Ki-Jana Hoever, who had previously been at the club on loan, did return later in the summer.
Neil said: “I think that shows exactly where we are. I think what we also need to bear in mind with Enda Stevens is that he’s just missed five games for us and I think you can see how important he is for us. He gives us balance with his left foot, he’s really experienced, does his job great.
“It’s easy to say things but the proof is in the pudding. I thought today against a really good side I thought we were more than a match for them.”
