Hosting Hull City at the Bet365 Stadium last weekend, Stoke City finally got their Championship campaign of 2018/19 up and running as we took a first victory of the year.
Having drawn two of our previous games this was the first win in the table and our defensive performance in terms of limiting Hull to more wayward efforts saw us take a clean sheet as well as they failed to get an effort on target and test England goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Butland obviously had two reasons to celebrate come the fulltime whistle and the player took to social media to express his delight at getting off the mark properly in the game.
That’s more like it. Three points and a clean sheet! 👊🏾 #BUT1AND pic.twitter.com/nql7aFv8MA
— Jack Butland (@JackButland_One) August 25, 2018
With plenty of frustration in the fan base following our start to the campaign after last season’s relegation from the Premier League, there was a certain amount of relief come the final whistle in this one and fans weren’t shy in expressing that and passing along the praise as they responded to our stopper.
You all brought a tear to my eye when I saw you all gathering together before kick off. Lovely to see. Keep it up Jack n for the record I think you should be captain.⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Laurie Leese (@LaurieLeese) August 25, 2018
Certainly did! ????
— thestokieboy72 (@thestokieboy72) August 25, 2018
Much better performance today and one that will hopefully drive us forward. Thank you for taking time out after the game made my daughters birthday! pic.twitter.com/UEweFIp2sV
— Potters (@PottersSCFC01) August 25, 2018
My captain❤️❤️❤️
— leighton (@leight_rathbone) August 25, 2018
Starting to look more like a team, these things don't happen overnight with so many changes, keep the faith CTID X
— Glyn Stephen Walker (@tow_crate) August 25, 2018
You had a good view of it, Jack. Nice for you not to be involved as much and be able to enjoy it for a change! How good was Etebo? ????????
— Jamo (@ricohjam) August 25, 2018
After losing 0-3 at home midweek I was so disappointed. Today's performance was much improved against a strong Hull side. Let's hope that we can build on this excellent performance and move up the table.
— Geoff Wall-Davis (@GeoffWallDavis) August 25, 2018
There are plenty more messages if you want to click Butland’s original tweet but the one comment above about it taking time is spot on for me, not just that but after last years disappointment, you don’t clear that out of the dressing room overnight either. Players are human and we aren’t the first side to see good players struggle when confidence is low.
