Stoke miss their chances

The Potters threw away the game by not capitalising on some great opportunities and then succumbed to a late goal from Coventry?s Dele Adebola five minutes from time to end a forgettable series of home games at the Brit this season.

Boskamp, in possibly his last appearance at the Brit as Manager, again brought on the young talent with Martin Paterson, Adam Rooney and Carl Dickinson all deservedly making the starting eleven and Matthew Hazley, making his first appearance in the first team squad, on the bench.

Stoke started the most lively and within the first 10 minutes both Dave Brammer and Adam Rooney had chances saved by the Coventry keeper and Stoke soon started to dominate the game. McSheffrey had the best opportunity for the Sky Blues in the first half, but his half shot was easily stopped by Steve Simonsen. Other than that, it was the Potters who were taking the play to Coventry. A good move between Rooney and Paul Gallagher opened up a chance for Mamady Sidibe but his shot went straight at the keeper and Gallagher and Daryl Russell also had good long range punts at goal.

But it was in the second half that Stoke wasted their best chances after Karl Henry had been brought on at half time for Dave Brammer. Paterson, with a decent move down the right, opened up the defence for Russell who with a clear shot on goal and just the keeper to beat managed to hit the ball into the side netting from 10 yards. Just a few minutes later, Clint Hill?s free kick found Paul Gallagher with space on the left hand side of the penalty area, but his lob over the keeper was just too hard and the ball landed on the top of the goal netting.

Boskamp brought on Hazley for Paterson and Stoke appeared to start to settle for a draw. Coventry seemed to have different plans and brought on Adebola who instantly started to cause trouble for the Stoke defence. They had two shots that narrowly missing the Stoke goal with the second only saved by the timely intervention of Michael Duberry with Simonsen stranded before Adebola gave the visitors? some undeserved points with a shot from 12 yards past Simonsen.

TEAMS
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Hill, Dickinson, Paterson (Hazley 68), Russell, Brammer (Henry 45), Gallagher, Sidibe, Rooney.
Subs not used: de Goey, Kopteff, Broomes.

Coventry: Fulop, Whing, Heath, Hall, Giddings, Thornton, Hughes, Doyle, McSheffrey (Morrell 80), Hutchison (Adebola 65), John (Turner 89).
Subs not used: Osbourne, Williams.