Stoke City v Millwall

Ben Kershaw and Kahrel Reddin scored two
superb late goals from distance to secure
victory at St. George’s Park, after Nikola Jojić
had given the Potters the lead.
The Serbia Under-21 international added
his third goal in five PL2 appearances on
31 minutes when he capitalised on an error
made by Forest goalkeeper George Shelvey,
who couldn’t claim a cross from Liam
McCarron, presenting the City winger with
the chance to finish at close range.
Forest found a way back into the game in the
early stages of the second half when Julian
LAST MATCH:
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EFL Championship
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Larsson managed to wriggle away from
defender Jake Griffin before slotting beyond
Blondy Nna Noukeu.
The Potters came close to restoring their lead
only a minute later when Nathan Lowe saw
his close-range shot cleared off the line by a
Forest defender.
However, Kershaw restored City’s advantage
ten minutes from time when he fired a
powerful right-footed volley beyond Shelvey.
Reddin then added to the Potters’ tally to
secure three points in the dying moments
of the game when he latched onto a perfect
pass from Jack Griffiths before driving a low
finish home.
City’s Under-21s will be back in action when
they take on Norwich City in PL2 at Clayton
Wood on Monday, January 8 (7pm kick-off).
TUESDAY DECEMBER 12, 2023
EFL CHAMPIONSHIP | BET365 STADIUM
REFEREE: DAVID WEBB
are embarking on a new adventure under a fairly new head coach and there
are sure to be plenty of twists and turns ahead for the Lions.
The South London club sat 15th in
the division when Rowett left The
Den but the fixture list has been
tough on new head coach Joe
Edwards, meaning Millwall have
dropped to 20th in the table.
Play-off chasing Sunderland have
been welcomed to South London
since Edwards’ arrival and the
Lions have also faced off against
automatic promotion hopefuls
Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
The Lions have amassed five points
since Edwards’ appointment,
although their tough run of fixtures
tells a story of its own, and with
the January transfer window fast
approaching, the new head coach
will have the opportunity to make
changes to his squad as he sees fit.
“This one is talking about bringing
in players to make an impact,” the
37-year-old recently told the South
London Press. “For those ones
who can really make an impact
then you’re normally talking about
players who have been elsewhere
in the first half of the season and
really standing out.
“It then becomes a really
competitive market. You get other
clubs that, sometimes if they
have a bigger budget, are able to
trump you.
“There are other situations like the
rate of injuries continues to grow –
across the board. Therefore clubs
have got players in their squad that
although they are not getting loads
of game time – I’m sure the player
would want to get out and play –
some managers will simply just be
scared to leave themselves short.”
The turn of the year sees the
fixture list, on paper, ease a little
for the Lions although the typical
nature of the Championship
applies with any team able to beat
another on a given day.
Last season the Lions departed
the bet365 Stadium with
maximum points thanks to Zion
Flemming’s solitary strike.
The Potters’ last three points
against the Lions in ST4 came in
March 2022 when Jacob Brown
and a George Saville own-goal
were enough for the three points.
Jack Bonham also denied Jed
Wallace from the penalty spot that
very same day.
13 BONHAM
17 HOEVER
23 MCNALLY
05 ROSE
02 GOOCH ■
04 PEARSON ■
28 LAURENT ■
19 MMAEE j
22 RUSHWORTH
02 KEY
05 CABANGO ■
06 DARLING
14 TYMON
04 FULTON
08 GRIMES
e’re on somewhat of a break from the
fixture list currently with our next match
scheduled for January 7 when we face a trip
to Huddersfield Town. But, of course, that doesn’t
mean the hard work has been paused, we’re still
working as hard as ever to make sure we’re in the
best place possible when we return to action.
There was disappointment our Staffordshire
County Cup match against Hednesford Town was
called off on December 17 due to conditions that
were beyond our control. We were ready to put in
a competitive performance and hopefully secure
our progress to the next round of the competition.
But once the tie is rearranged we’ll be ready to put
our all into the match and ensuring we progress as
far as we possibly can.
Finally I would like to wish you all a very merry
Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. We
look forward to seeing you in the New Year for a
positive second half of the campaign to add to the
first half we have already had.
Enjoy the match
Marie
A relative rookie in managerial terms, Joe Edwards took his first steps
into senior management when he accepted the Millwall head coach’s
position back in November.
The 37-year-old’s playing career
came to an early end following
his release by Chelsea at the age
of 16 before he moved almost
immediately into coaching.
After being appointed Chelsea
U18s manager in 2014, Edwards
would lead the Blues to two
consecutive FA Youth Cups.
The 37-year-old continued to
work his way up the coaching
rankings in West London before
being named assistant manager
to Frank Lampard when the
Chelsea legend returned to
Stamford Bridge in 2019/20.
After Lampard’s departure the
following season, Edwards
SUNDAY DECEMBER 17, 2023
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REFEREE: ANDREW KITCHEN
Official Women’s Team Partner
remained at the Bridge working
under Thomas Tuchel as the
Blues went on to win the
2020/21 Champions League
following a 1-0 victory over
Manchester City in the final.
Edwards once again moved
with Lampard when the former
England midfielder was named
Everton manager as well as
towards the end of last term
when Lampard returned to
Chelsea as interim manager.
A brief interim spell in charge
of England’s U20s followed his
final spell as assistant manager
at Chelsea before the 37-yearold
moved to The Den in early
November.
GAMES
24 PALMER
02 FURLONG
05 BARTLEY ■
04 KIPRÉ
03 TOWNSEND
35 YOKUSLU ■
07 WALLACE
21 THOMAS-ASANTE
13 BONHAM
17 HOEVER
23 MCNALLY
05 ROSE
15 THOMPSON
28 LAURENT
06 BURGER ■
02 GOOCH
12 JOHNSON
the potters
the potters
the potters
TODAY’S VISITORS
MILWALL FC
After four years under the charges of the experienced Gary Rowett, Millwall
THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF STOKE CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
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ACADEMY NEWS
Stoke City Under-21s overcame
Nottingham Forest by
securing a 3-1 victory on
Monday evening. By Louis Eccleston
the potters
millwall 1
huddersfield 1
millwall v
qpr
HEAD COACH
JOE EDWARDS
joe edwards
managerial
career:
14 15
stoke city 1
swansea city 1
match stats
the potters
31
potters XI
06 BURGER j
THOMPSON f (81)
24 TCHAMADEU j
LOWE f (90+3)
12 JOHNSON j
JUNHO f (73)
swansea XI
12 PATERSON j
COOPER f (75)
18 PATINO j
BOLASIE f (45) ■
10 LOWE j
CULLEN f (76)
09 YATES j
WALSH f (66)
west brom 1
stoke city 1
7WON
1DRAWN
2LOST
4WIN PERCENTAGE
possession
possession
44% 56%
65% 35%
attempts
“We were aggressive in terms of trying to
attempts
16 8
16 9
get the ball back and when we got it we
“I thought we showed real quality at times.
on target
on target
4 2 broke with real pace and created some
7 1 I told the players to believe in themselves
corners
really good opportunities. The effort,
corners
and go and play with confidence. The most
6 3 drive, determination and togetherness
11 11 pleasing thing was that we looked like a
fouls
was excellent, you could see the
fouls
team. Coming here is always a difficult game,
11 14
9 14
communication between the players, which
you have to stand up and face the challenge.
yellow cards
yellow cards
3 2 was key, and I thought we played on the
3 1 They have a good manager and are really
red cards
front foot and created chances.”
red cards
well-organised.”
0 0 PAUL GALLAGHER
0 0 PAUL GALLAGHER
20 21
STOKE CiTY
WOMEN
Good afternoon and
welcome back to
the bet365 Stadium
for this afternoon’s
match.
W
match stats
the potters
33
14%
west brom XI
27 MOWATT j
MOLUMBY f (87)
11 DIANGANA j
FELLOWS f (71) ■
17 SARMIENTO j
PIPA f (77)
potters XI
22 JUNHO j
WESLEY f (69)
19 MMAEE j
VIDIGAL f (69)
the potters
3