Sunday Papers Match Reports

[Hooky]

getting harder to come by, by the week these they must be getting wise to it.

Sunday Times

Stoke City 3 Walsall 2



Stoke City’s win was their seventh from eight League matches. Darel Russell fired them in front from 25 yards before Jorge Leitao headed the equaliser. Carl Asaba, playing in place of the banned Ade Akinbiyi, swept in his first. Again Walsall came back when Kris Taylor scored on his debut. Asaba’s deflected second was decisive, although Leitao had a late goal ruled out for offside

Tony Pulis, Stoke City manager: ‘Carl gave me the sort of response that a manager looks for’



Colin Lee, Walsall manager: ‘No one really deserved to lose what was a tremendous contest’

Stoke City: Cutler, Halls, Taggart, Williams, Clarke, Russell, Neal, Svard, Hoekstra, Noel-Williams, Asaba

Walsall: Petterson, Carbon, Ritchie, Bazeley, Aranalde, Taylor, Samways, Wrack, Birch, Leitao, Merson

Referee: P Armstrong

Attendance: 18,035

[Hooky]

Sunday Mirror

FOOTBALL: HERO CARL DESTROYS AT DOUBLE Feb 1 2004


STOKE..................3 Russell 8, Asaba 37, 56 WALSALL..............2 Leitao 14, Taylor 42

By Neil Johnston


WALSALL'S Britannia Stadium curse continued as Carl Asaba struck twice to push Colin Lee's outfit towards the drop.

The battling Saddlers looked to have salvaged a priceless point - twice coming from behind - in a thrill-a-minute battle.

But on a ground where they have failed to win in five previous attempts, they were undone by Asaba's second-half effort.

There was a touch of fortune about the way in-form Stoke sealed their fourth straight win to keep their play-off hopes alive.

A tame shot by Gifton Noel-Williams cannoned off Asaba and beyond goalkeeper Andy Petterson.

For Walsall, now in deep trouble after collecting just one point from 12, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Stoke were without five players due to suspension but they seized the initiative after another mistake by new keeper Petterson.

The Australian had conceded six goals on his Saddlers debut and eight minutes into his second game he allowed a speculative 20-yard strike from Darel Russell to slip through his fingers.

It was the midfielder's third goal since joining from Norwich last summer, yet Stoke's lead lasted just six minutes before Jorge Leitao levelled.

Dreadful marking allowed the Portuguese striker a free header from close range which he made the most of after Paul Merson's centre.

Stoke responded and it needed a block by Zigor Aranalde to deny a goal-bound effort from Asaba, with Petterson stranded.

But Asaba was not to be denied. Eight minutes before half-time he restored his side's lead with his first goal in three months after Petterson had parried a strike by substitute Kris Commons, a replacement for injured Peter Hoekstra.

But more woeful defending allowed the Saddlers to equalise before the break, with Kris Taylor marking his debut with a goal.

A teasing run by Gary Birch set up the former Manchester United trainee to poke past keeper Neil Cutler from inside the six-yard area.

The second half was just as breathtaking as the first.

Merson hit the post from 30 yards, while at the other end Commons was twice denied from distance by a fast-improving Petterson before Asaba pounced.

Leitao thought he had levelled in the dying moments, but his effort was ruled off-side.MAN OF THE MATCH KRIS TAYLOR

Mature display capped with a goal.

STOKE: Cutler 6, Halls 6, Svard 6, Taggart 6, Clarke 7, Russell 7, Neal 7, Williams 6, Hoekstra (Commons 6), Noel-Williams 6, Asaba 7.

WALSALL: Petterson 6, Bazeley 6, Carbon 6, Ritchie 6, Aranalde 6, Wrack 6, Samways 6, TAYLOR 8, Merson 6, Leitao 6, Birch 7.

MANAGER RATINGS: Pulis 7; Lee 7.

REFEREE: P Armstrong 7.

[Hooky]

Birmingham Post

Stoke 3 Walsall 2 - report Jan 31 2004







Striker Carl Asaba ended his lengthy goal drought in style as Stoke edged a see-saw battle against Walsall at the Britannia Stadium.

Having struggled for form this season, the former Sheffield United front-runner went into this fixture having not found the net in 15 attempts.

But in a game packed with excitement he brought that run emphatically to an end with a goal either side of the interval to add to Darel Russell's early strike.

Stoke went into the game without six first-teamers. Striker Ade Akinbiyi was suspended along with Richard Johnson, Marcus Hall, John Eustace and Wayne Thomas while defender Clint Hill missed out through illness.

But Walsall manger Colin Lee also had his problems as first-choice goalkeeper Jimmy Walker was ruled out by a ban along with Ian Roper, Simon Osborn and Stefan Oakes.

With so many regulars absent, the signs seemed to point towards a disjointed affair but both sides started well enough.

With just a few minutes gone the Potters survived a scare when a mis-placed backpass almost caused a problem for goalkeeper Neil Cutler.

But having cleared the danger, the hosts piled forward and after eight minutes they forged ahead when a quick throw-in from Clive Clarke set away Gifton Noel-Williams and he squared for Russell to thump home.

Having seized the lead, Stoke pressed on and a few minutes later Russell went close again with another powerful drive.

But sensing things were in danger of running away from them, Walsall suddenly increased the pace and after 13 minutes they were back on level terms.

The home side were guilty of ball-watching as Paul Merson picked up possession in midfield and, after he had exchanged passes with Vinny Samways, they were made to pay in style as a cultured chip over the defence from the ex-Arsenal playmaker allowed Jorge Leitao to head home.

Deservedly back in the game, Walsall continued to press and soon after Kris Taylor's curling effort forced Cutler to punch clear.

However, as the momentum swung again it was Stoke who regained the lead after 37 minutes when Asaba latched onto Kris Commons' pass to sweep the ball home.

Against the run of play the Potters had seized control and within a few minutes they could have extended that advantage when Asaba again fired close.

But the Saddlers continued to plug away and three minutes before the break they gained their reward as Gary Birch crossed for Taylor to guide the ball home.

After the frenetic tempo of the first period, both sides would have been looking to stamp a degree of control on proceedings after the break but there was no let-up in the drama.

Within six minutes of the restart Merson slipped away from his marker and thumped a thunderous 30-yarder against the woodwork.

However, at the other end Noel-Williams continued to torment the Saddlers defence with his pace and after 55 minutes he burst down the flank before crossing magnificently for Asaba to score.

Stoke were now beginning to enjoy more of the ball and after Commons had drilled wide from the edge of the area, they almost increased their advantage when Sebastian Svard's curling shot forced Samways to hack clear.

Yet despite going onto dominate possession, the Potters could not find another path to goal and in the end they were thankful to a last-ditch save from Cutler to keep out Leitao's late strike.

[Hooky]

Sporting Life



Boss Tony Pulis was delighted with Carl Asaba's efforts.

ASABA BRACE MAKES MOST OF CHANCE
Carl Asaba took advantage of Ade Akinbiyi's suspension to fire Stoke to their seventh win in eight league games, to the delight of manager Tony Pulis.

Asaba, who rooms with Akinbiyi on away trips, scored twice on his first start in the league since December 6 as Stoke won 3-2 at home to Walsall in Nationwide Division One.

Delighted City manager Pulis admitted: "I'm very pleased for Carl. Ade has been on fire and that has held him back, but he gave me the sort of response a manger looks for.

"It was a terrific win with the suspensions and injuries we have, but Walsall have certainly played their part in a hugely entertaining game."

Walsall believed they had equalised for a third time two minutes from the end when a header from substitute Gary Wales was on its way in before Jorge Leitao, adjudged to be offside, got a final touch.

Manager Colin Lee said: "I can't really comment on the decision because I was too far away, but the lads say Jorge was behind the ball when Gary headed it.

"If a wrong decision has cost us a point it is a big shame because no-one really deserved to lose what was a tremendous contest."

Stoke were gifted their eighth minute opener by Walsall keeper Andy Patterson, who did not look as though he had recovered from the six goals Coventry put past him two weeks ago.

Darel Russell tried no more than a speculative effort from 25 yards and Patterson, who tried to tip the ball over, could only fumble it into the net.

Walsall were level five minutes later when Paul Merson picked out Leitao with a inch-perfect cross and the striker did the rest with a firm downward header.

Merson's delivery was at odds with the generally low quality up until then as lesser mortals struggled to cope in difficult conditions.

Stoke should have taken advantage of another Patterson slip in the 28th minute as he spilled Lewis Neal's cross straight to Asaba.

But Asaba could only drive the loose ball straight into a defender when he had time and space to do better.

Neil Cutler saved well from debutant Kris Taylor's 16th minute strike at the other end before City retained the advantage in the 36th minute.

Substitute Kris Commons, who replaced the injured Peter Hoekstra just two minutes earlier, saw his fierce shot palmed out by Patterson and Asaba drove in the rebound.

Chances continued to arrive at regular intervals and the visitors equalised for the second time three minutes before the break.

Gary Birch beat John Halls and his low cross was turned in from four yards by Taylor, who stole in totally unmarked.

There was no let-up at the start of the second period as Patterson saved well from Neal and Commons before Merson drove against a post.

Asaba bagged his second in the 56th minute, heading Gifton Noel Williams' intended shot past the wrong-footed Patterson.

Walsall refused to throw in the towel and Stoke had to survive a couple of goalmouth scrambles before Leitao's late effort was controversially wiped out.