Stoke - Home, Falmer years
Season 7 Premier League (H) Monday 20/11/17 - 2-2 ~ Gross, Izquierdo
Going into this contest following the third international break, Albion were currently a top ten side. Expectations had been exceeded to date and Seagulls presently led the mid table group, albeit merely 5 points covered 10 clubs from BHA to just above relegation places. Chris Hughton was not known for tinkering and played a settled side for the 4th match in succession. Prior to k-o BHA home record was W2 D2 L1 for 1.6pt/gm average, so fans expectations to continue an unbeaten run were beyond optimistic. New LED floodlights and presence of Sky tv added to the atmosphere, on a nearly full Amex evening despite wet conditions.
Albion twice came from behind to restore parity in an entertaining contest. City opened the scoring against run of play when going route one as Albion were caught flat footed (28 min). Then Murray went down in the area but Ref said no way. Soon afterwards GM got booked and it just wasn't his day. Later Gross levelled just prior to the break after a good run by Propper (44min). But in stoppage time Potters nodded a 2nd goal home from a corner while BHA stood around (45+ min). During the second period it was end to end stuff at times and goals were there to be scored. Seagulls were level again on the hour mark as they went in search of an equaliser. Murray fed Izquierdo who stabbed in following his initial pass rebounding straight back (60 min). Hughton made very late subs of both wingers and link man but it made little difference as the game petered out. Hughton said, 'we were not at our best. We didn't probe well enough and were a litle bit sloppy with passing. I thought it was a certain penalty.' So Albion remained a top ten outfit and who would have thought that remotely possible four months ago?
Stats; shape 4411-3421, ht 1-2, goals 44,60-28,45, poss 54%-46%, on target 3-6, off target 6-7, corners 6-7, fouls 13-5, yellow 1-0, subs 3-1. Gate 29,676 (away 1055)
1 Ryan, 2 Bruno, 22 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Bong, 11 Knockaert (21 Schelotto), 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 19 Izquierdo (20 March), 13 Gross (37 Brown), 17 Murray
Prem P 12 . W 4 D 4 L 4 . F 13 A 13 . Pt 16 Po 9

STOKE 17/18 Stats -
Manager - Gary Rowett (2018), previously Paul Lambert (2018)
Total; P38 W7 D12 L19 F35 A68 GD-33 Pt33 Po19 = 0.86pt/gm. Wins = 18.4%, Loss = 50% - Paul Lambert.
3qtrs; P29 W6 D9 L13 F28 A55 GD-26 Pt27 Po19 = 0.93pt/gm. Wins = 20.6%, Loss = 48.2% - Paul Lambert.
Hlfwy; P19 W5 D4 L10 GD-18 Pt19 Po14 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 52.6% - Mark Hughes.
Start; P10 W3 D2 L5 F11 A20 GD-9 Pt11 Po14 = 1.10pt/gm. Wins = 30%, Loss = 50%

Expectations - would maybe to regain another top-ten position but from a stronger squad.
Aug - there are probably valid reasons to support mid-table mediocrity but those can readily apply to most bottom half & drop-zone Prem League's clubs.
New Year - manager sacked with the club in the drop zone and k-o from FA Cup by a L2 side.
March - relegation battle. EFL Cup & FA Cup early exits to boot.

CITY PREM record from 11/12 to 17/18; 14, 13, 9, 9, 9, 13, 19. Best finish = 9, Worst finish = 19, Ave finish = 12th.
C21; Ave = 11th (10yrs), Top ten - 3 times from 9 (13/14, 14/15, 15/16). Relegated - 1. AVE GATE; 27.1K, CAP; 27.9K
RECENT managers; Paul Lambert (2018), Mark Hughes (2013-18), Tony Pulis (2006-13)

PREVIOUS FIVE;
17/18 - P38 W7 D12 L19 F35 A68 GD-33 Pt33 Po19 = 0.86pt/gm. Wins = 18.4%, Loss = 50% - Paul Lambert & Mark Hughes.
Another Welshman who has been around the block in the Prem. Hughes steered Potters to a consistent middle order climax in the last four seasons. Something better would require serious money stoking the Prem kiln.
16/17 - P38 W11 D11 L16 F41 A56 GD-15 Pt44 Po13 = 1.15pt/gm. Wins = 28.9%, Draws = 28.9%, Loss = 42.1%, CS = 29% - Mark Hughes.
They knew enough about who to beat and when it was necessary to get enough points - thus maintain a lifestyle to which they'd become accustomed. But less can't be more for ever... more or less.
15/16 - P38 W14 D9 L15 F41 A55 GD-14 Pt51 Po9 = 1.34pt/gm. Wins = 36.8% - Mark Hughes.
There was no panic as 999 registered, to complete a hat-trick of non-emergency finishes. They were ever so mediocre & average again that 'Sparky' was kinda questioned for Hughes current nickname (P134 W53 D32 L49 Wins = 39.5%).
14/15 - P38 W15 D9 L14 F48 A45 GD+3 Pt54 Po9 = 1.42pt/gm. Wins = 39.4% - Mark Hughes.
Things levelled out for MH but another ninth place, with an extra 4pt & +gd rather than -ve previously, seemed to be setting a consistent positive trend.
13/14 - P38 W13 D11 L14 F45 A52 GD-7 Pt50 Po9 = 1.31pt/gm. Wins = 34.2% - Mark Hughes.
Potters all-round regular guy Tony Pulis departed but Mark Hughes did an A-ok job to turn City into a top-ten club in his first season.

FA CUP from 13/14; 4th rnd, 5th rnd, 4th rnd, 3rd rnd, 3rd rnd
LEAGUE CUP; q-f, 4th rnd, s-f, 3rd rnd, 3rd rnd

STOKE AWAY;
17/18 - P19 W2 D7 L10 F15 A38 GD-23 Pt12 Po19 = 0.63pt/gm or 36.3% of total points. Wins = 10.5%, Loss = 52.6% - Mark Hughes & Paul Lambert
16/17 - P19 W4 D5 L10 F17 A32 GD-15 Pt17 Po13 (Po11 away) = 0.89pt/gm or 38.6% of total points. Away wins = 21% - Mark Hughes.
15/16 - P19 W6 D5 L8 F19 A31 GD-12 Pt23 Po9 = 1.21pt/gm or 45% of total points. Wins = 31.5% - Mark Hughes.
14/15 - P19 W5 D6 L8 F16 A23 GD-7 Pt21 Po9 = 1.10pt/gm or 38.9% of total points. Wins = 26.3% - Mark Hughes.
13/14 - P19 W3 D5 L11 F18 A35 GD-17 Pt14 Po9 = 0.73pt/gm or 28% of total points. Wins = 15.7% - Mark Hughes.

Stoke - Away, Falmer years
Season 7 Premier League (A) 10/2/18 - 1-1 ~ Izquierdo
A game Albion had to win for reasons of survival three months ahead. It was very tight thru bottom half of the PL table, where merely 7pts separated nine teams below 11th place. Albion were averaging approx 1pt/gm overall but mainly due to reasonable home form. On the road it was a different story with figs of P13 W2 D3 L8 F6 A16 = 0.69pt/gm. Seagulls hadn't won away since early November and the sequence from August was ldl lww lll ldl d. A way had to be found now to score more as visitors because results to date were 2-0 0-0 2-1 2-0 0-3 0-1 1-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1. But the addition of strikers Leo Ulloa (on loan) & Jurgen Locadia (14m) was soon expected to pay dividends by bolstering team-sheet options.
Albion should have won but in truth were lucky not to get beat right at the death. Seagulls took the lead with a move from the beautiful game handbook, involving one-twos with March & Stephens before Izquierdo slotted home (32m). They then should have put the match to bed but failed to convert again and let hosts back in it. An attacker was allowed to let fly from distance and it snuck inside a post (68min). Next Ulloa & Kayal were sent on to bolster flagging visitors and later Knockaert but it made little difference. Ref pointed to the spot just prior to the ninety minutes but Ryan parried the spot kick and Dunk hacked clear. A moment later Knockaert headed an effort off the line to preserve a point. Hughton said, 'it was a very soft decision - they were holding each other. It was a really good team goal.' He was disappointed not to get three points but Albion couldn't convert chances and so the away form worry continued unabated. Further difficult test awaited up north before it would be all over bar the shouting.
Stats; shape 433-4141, ht 0-1, goals 68-32, poss 57%-43%, on target 3-6, off target 6-7, blocked 6-1, crosses 33-11, corners 7-4, o/s 2-3, tackles 11-28, fouls 6-10, yellows 0-0, subs 3-3. Gate 29,876 (away 3237)
1 Ryan, 21 Schelotto, 22 Duffy, 5 Dunk, 3 Bong, 20 March (11 Knockaert), 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 19 Izquierdo, 13 Gross (7 Kayal), 17 Murray (16 Ulloa)
Prem P 27 . W 5 D 10 L 11 . F 22 A 36 . Pt 28 Po 13

STOKE @ HOME;
17/18 - P19 W5 D5 L9 F20 A30 GD-10 Pt20 Po19 = 1.05pt/gm or 60.6% of total points. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 47.3% - Mark Hughes & Paul Lambert.
16/17 - P19 W7 D6 L6 F24 A24 GD0 Pt27 Po13 (Po14 home) = 1.42pt/gm or 61.3% of total points. Home wins = 36.8% - Mark Hughes.
15/16 - P19 W8 D4 L7 F22 A22 GD-2 Pt28 Po9 = 1.47pt/gm or 54.9% of total points. Wins = 42.1% - Mark Hughes.
14/15 - P19 W10 D3 L6 F32 A22 GD+10 Pt33 Po9 = 1.73pt/gm or 61.1% of total points. Wins = 52.6% - Mark Hughes.
13/14 - P19 W10 D6 L3 F27 17 GD+10 Pt36 Po9 = 1.89pt/gm or 72% of total points. Wins = 52.6% - Mark Hughes.