The Lads, up for the cup in which FA stands for the respect the authorities now give the old competition and the interest most fans have in the early stages of it, took on The Potters for the third time in a month and, at the slightly unusual kickoff time of 3pm on a Saturday, and basically gave them the game with two errors. A turgid first 45 by us saw us behind at the first break, and a sloppy bit of play gifted them the second. No more FA Cup for us.
While the unsavoury side of the game hit the headlines again with the fining (a paltry £12,000) and banning of Norwich's Sainz for gobbing on Mepham the other week, it's the fenestration part we're interested in. In comes Enzo le Fee (and as there's an acute accent above the first "e" in Fee, I've no idea how it's pronounced) to much trumpeting and many words of praise. Immediately instated as the divisions joint most valuable player (alongside Jobe) he's commanded loads of Euros in transfer fees recently - but, most importantly, learned his trade under our Reg. A statement signing, even if it is only a loan at this stage, because of the potential outlay in terms of wages and eventual price. A positive opening to the window, and a possible tweaking of our "model" - ha'way Enzo!
You probably knew it was sunny but Baltic with a capital B and that Stoke had yet another manager in Mark Robins with one b, and that we wondered how many changes Reg would make. That was the chat that kept us warm on the way through - there wasn't even the chance to nick Monty the dog's blanket as it was a dogless minibus.
The bulk of the crowd huddled together like so many Emperor Penguins in the East stand, to see the Lads line up:
Moore
Hume O'Nien Hjelde Alese
Neil (c) Jones Rigg Aouchiche
Mayenda Connolly
...and bench of Blondy, Rusyn, Bellingham, Johnson, Mepham, Ogunsuyi (thank the Lord for predictive text), Isidor, Samed, and Aleksic. Few changes, Reg? Give awwa!
No sneaking in via the usual North Stand turnstiles and an unaccustomed queue in the East side. Boo... followed by lots of folks (self included ) seeking our temporary seats. One side, half an end, and a smattering of comfy seats despite the cracking build-up music, doesn't really make for much of an atmosphere, but let's see, eh? The couple of hundred Stokies up a height in the North End looked a bit isolated to say the least.
His name might not have been amongst those, but his signing, and his pre-match parading, added a positive spin to proceedings.
In the stripes we defended the North end and let the all-blacks kick off. Trying to be too clever, we came back down our left side to give it to Moore, who played it to the edge of the box and it was a penalty after three minutes - 0-1. Bugger.
After ten minutes of finding our feet and getting Mayenda away down the right wing as often as possible, we broke down the middle but Rigg's short studs meant a slip and a Stoke break that ended with a corner. We broke from that but ran into traffic in their box or so I'm told. Most of the opening fifteen had been a tale of an obscured view thanks to people sitting down because there was an empty seat, then having to move because it wasn't theirs - come on, folks, you've got a ticket with a number on it....
As we struggled to get control of the ball or the game, Aouchiche did get forward to send a curler a foot wide and a few minutes after that Mayenda got through and hit a low shot from the edge, which was saved. There was then a foul on Rigg on the right but Hjelde headed over the free kick from a crowded box.
One added minute and the first half, which had been more about taking the bairns out for a hotdog than a serious cup game, was over. One mistake and we went into the break deservedly behind. We'd tried to be pretty down the left, but Mayenda on the right had been our most dangerous option, while Neil had come closest to actually dominating anything - but not quite much as their number 12.
Something needed to change, or it'd be just the League., which I know is our priority but ha'way...that was pretty poor (to put it mildly) and we didn't really look that bothered, which is unacceptable, and can hardly have inspired Enzo, who probably nicked off to the Wheatsheaf during the break
No changes for us, apart from (I hope) a proper rocket from Reg. Stoke had the first chance on 50 when the ref decided a Sunderland forelock had put it out for a corner, which we cleared and looked to have won one of our own, but a goal kick was given. Puzzling.
After a promising attack ended when Hume's low one in was taken by their keeper, Stoke came down their right, Alese went down in our box as he helped break it up, and it didn't look good. Stretcher. Off he was carried to generous applause, to be replaced by Zak Johnson as Rigg was also replaced by Aleksic.
Reet, half an hour to save our cup run as on came Gooooch for them - Mayenda versus Gooch, which should be a canny contest. There were two fouls as we tried to break down the left - the ref played on the first one, booked the second assailant, but made us take the free kick for the first. Weird, but it fired us up and we eventually slotted it through for Aleksic to poke past the keeper with probably his first touch on 63. Whoop whoop!
We had a shot saved, then Luke went on a Benno and we hit it wide, but at last we looked like we wanted that fourth round - and clipped an effort round the keeper from the right, but into the side netting. Jones moved left with Aouchiche coming inside a bit, then Gooch caught Mayenda on the heel - but apologised. After a limpy minute, Eli was zooming about again, then their keeper had a lie down on 73, probably to give his marras a break.
A cross (eventually) from our left saw Aleksic get a header on target which was saved, then with twelve to go Samed replaced Jones who had a better than decent afternoon. On 82 Connolly had a low one saved from the left after a clever move, then the keeper kept out another and then there was a blocked effort as we actually applied pressure. On 88 Connolly whacked in a beaut but the keeper palmed it away and another seven minutes were announced. Despite decent pressure, and some frustratingly patient possession, it ended level even if it was with us on the front foot.
Extra time novelty. Another thirty- odd minutes of being cold.
After a Stoke corner Gooch had one saved and we broke down the left only to draw the crudest of fouls - after which their lad lay down before shambling off. Ha'way man ref, have a word. Mayenda ran 40 yards from the right to lay it to Adil, but the curler was again wide of the angle.
Samed and Mayenda swapped passes and the latter's cross was almost connected with at the back post, then two minutes extra were announced as Connolly couldn't convert, but we won a corner on our left - which came to nothing.
Reg decided to go for it, replacing Hjelde with Rusyn for the final fifteen with three at the back - sort of, as Neil dropped in there and Samed moved further forward. A good save by Moore preceded some nice stuff as we went to a positive 4-4-2, then on came Ogunsuyi for Mayenda with ten to go. A loose one on halfway was too short for us to win, their big lad knocked it over the top, and he ran into the box to score. Oh man.
We had corners, right up to the last minute - but not in the single added minute and our cup run had lasted just over two hours. Poor afternoon, Lads.
Man of the Match? Mayenda had a good first half, I like the look of Samed, Jones and Johnson looked decent, but Connolly up front by himself is a no-no. Overall I'd give it to Dan Neil. 'nuff said.
Just the League, then.
