Potters’ unbeaten run ended by Blues
Stoke City’s seven-match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as the Potters were defeated 2-1 by Birmingham City.
Goals at the start of either half from Jay Stansfield and Juninho Bacuna put the visitors in the driving seat before Jordan Thompson pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining.
Steven Schumacher’s team pushed for an equaliser, with Ryan Mmaee having the best chance from close range, however they were unable to find a second to draw level and extend their undefeated run.
The Potters had made a positive start in North Staffordshire and Wouter Burger forced John Ruddy to push away his goalbound effort before Bae Junho fired the rebound into the side netting from an acute angle.
Blues edged ahead less than 120 seconds later when Kōji Miyoshi played in Stansfield and the forward flicked the ball past his marker before powering a shot into the roof of Daniel Iversen’s net.
City responded to that setback by creating a succession of chances including a shot from Ryan Mmaee which was repelled by Ruddy and a Luke McNally header which sailed narrowly wide of the far post.
Iversen was required just before the midway point of the half as he got down well to push away Siriki Dembélé’s drive after the winger had cut in from the left.
Before the half was out Vidigal saw a shot curl narrowly wide while Iversen displayed strong hands to push away Dion Sanderson’s long range drive.
The Danish stopper could do little about Birmingham’s second goal minutes after the break as Bacuna curled a free-kick from 25 yards into the top corner.
Schumacher made a triple change in the aftermath of the goal with Ben Wilmot, Mehdi Léris and Tyrese Campbell introduced from the bench.
As City stepped up their attempts to find a route back into the contest Bae Junho saw a cross clip the top of the bar, Campbell flicked an effort over the onrushing Ruddy and Mmaee was denied at close range by the visitors’ keeper.
The Potters’ pressure bore fruit in the 70th minute when Burger elegantly scooped a cross to the far post where Thompson had ghosted in and he prodded home.
The home side almost levelled with their next opportunity, however, after Campbell and Michael Rose combined to set up Mmaee inside the box, the forward volleyed over.
Nathan Lowe, fresh from scoring a hat-trick for the Under-21s on Monday, was introduced as City pushed for an equaliser and the forward was denied by Ruddy late on after meeting Thompson’s delivery from the left.
