CITY 3 STOKE CITY 0
League Division 2
19th September 1987
attendance 19,322
scorers Varadi (2, 28 & 49)
Ref George Tyson
City Nixon, Gidman, Hinchcliffe, Lake, Simpson, Redmond, White, Stewart, Varadi, Scott, McNab – subs Adcock(unused), Clements(unused)
Stoke Fox, Dixon, Carr, Talbot, Bould, Berry, Ford, Parkin, Morgan, Daly, Allinson – subs Shaw(30), Hemming(unused)
IMRE VARADI SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF HIS HAT-TRICK
FROM THE PRESS BOX
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PETER HEWITT WRITING IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE EVENING SENTINEL 21ST SEPTEMBER 1987
Quiet man Nicky Morgan led the dressing room inquest at Maine Road as Stoke City manager Mick Mills invited reasons for their failure to complete with the Manchester City teenage set.
The outcome is that Stoke will revert to last season’s wing formula, after Mills frankly admitted that his tactical thinking and team selection were wrong.
He said: “Everything was wrong out there, but I accept just as much of the blame as anyone. When a quiet chap like Morgan starts blasting off, everyone gets the message. If he is to have a chance of playing we need to go back to last season’s style and that is just what we will do now. I have probably expected players to adapt to a change of system and it has not worked out.”
From Stoke’s view all three goals were down to defensive defensive errors. Ironically Fox did not have a save to make from any other situations.
Manchester will view the goals differently. They look to be a team with a bright future, a combination of physical strength and youthful pace, and Stoke have some leeway to make up if they are to join them in the promotion challenge.
Quiet man Nicky Morgan led the dressing room inquest at Maine Road as Stoke City manager Mick Mills invited reasons for their failure to complete with the Manchester City teenage set.
The outcome is that Stoke will revert to last season’s wing formula, after Mills frankly admitted that his tactical thinking and team selection were wrong.
He said: “Everything was wrong out there, but I accept just as much of the blame as anyone. When a quiet chap like Morgan starts blasting off, everyone gets the message. If he is to have a chance of playing we need to go back to last season’s style and that is just what we will do now. I have probably expected players to adapt to a change of system and it has not worked out.”
From Stoke’s view all three goals were down to defensive defensive errors. Ironically Fox did not have a save to make from any other situations.
Manchester will view the goals differently. They look to be a team with a bright future, a combination of physical strength and youthful pace, and Stoke have some leeway to make up if they are to join them in the promotion challenge.
GOALS
2 minutes: Stoke failed to move the ball from some halfway-line skirmishes. Scott’s Crossfield ball found Simpson in space, with Dixon having been pulled inside, Simpson’s through ball was perfect for Varadi to take in his stride before placing coolly past Fox.
27 minutes: Nixon’s long clearance splashed down in Stoke’s half. Berry moved to loft it back, but only kicked air as the ball skimmed off the turf and Varadi was away for an action replay of his first goal.
48 minutes: Stoke looked to have plenty of defenders lining up to clear Simpson’s left touchline cross. The ball skidded past everyone to the far post, where Varadi was positioned to grab his hat-trick.
2 minutes: Stoke failed to move the ball from some halfway-line skirmishes. Scott’s Crossfield ball found Simpson in space, with Dixon having been pulled inside, Simpson’s through ball was perfect for Varadi to take in his stride before placing coolly past Fox.
27 minutes: Nixon’s long clearance splashed down in Stoke’s half. Berry moved to loft it back, but only kicked air as the ball skimmed off the turf and Varadi was away for an action replay of his first goal.
48 minutes: Stoke looked to have plenty of defenders lining up to clear Simpson’s left touchline cross. The ball skidded past everyone to the far post, where Varadi was positioned to grab his hat-trick.
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