STOKE - Home, Falmer years:
17/18 Prem, season7.
Albion record @ Amex: W = 0 D = 1 L = 0

manager: Alex Neil (2022) . previously Michael O'Neill (19-22) .
Britannia Stad: ave gate; 27.1K, cap; 29.9K . nickname: Potters . shirt: red & white stripes.

Prem record from 11/12 to 23/24; 14, 13, 9, 9, 9, 13 / 19, (16, 15, 14, 14, 16 C'ship) @ 8/5/23.
Prem best finish = 9th, worst finish = 19th.
C21; top ten - '14, '15, '16 . relegated - '18 .
Prem points: 45 42 50 54 51 44 33 - - - - - -
recent managers; Michael O'Neill (19-22), Nathan Jones (2019), Gary Rowett (2018), Paul Lambert (2018), Mark Hughes (13-18),
Tony Pulis (06-13)

STOKE AWAY; Prem.
Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . . W% L%
18/19 - 23/24 not Premier League.
17/18 - 2 7 10 . 15 38 -23 . 12 19 = 0.63 36.3 . 10.5 52.6 - Mark Hughes & Paul Lambert
16/17 - 4 5 10 . 17 32 -15 . 17 13 = 0.89 38.6 . 21.0 52.6 - Mark Hughes.
15/16 - 6 5 08 . 19 31 -12 . 23 09 = 1.21 45.0 . 31.5 42.1 - Mark Hughes.
14/15 - 5 6 08 . 16 23 -07 . 21 09 = 1.10 38.9 . 26.3 42.1 - Mark Hughes.
13/14 - 3 5 11 . 18 35 -17 . 14 09 = 0.73 28.0 . 15.7 57.8 - Mark Hughes.

Albion v City (H) from 17/18: 2-2, -, -, -, -, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 0 . F2 A2
scorers: Gross, Izquierdo.
memorable match: Season7 (H) - our only hosting since C'ship fixtures at Withdean in the mid noughties.
note: for away Falmer Years results and reports scroll further below.

Seasons 8-13 (2nd-7th) (H) - not Premier League.

Season 7 1st Premier League (H) Mon 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.
*** match report: 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 = 1.33pt/gm . Wins = 33.3%, Loss = 33.3%

STOKE 17/18 Stats -
Quatr: Pl . W D L . . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm . . W% L%
Total; 38 . 7 12 19 . 35 68 -33 . 33 19 = 0.86 . 18.4 50.0 - Paul Lambert.
3qtrs; 29 . 6 09 13 . 28 55 -26 . 27 19 = 0.93 . 20.6 48.2 - Paul Lambert.
Hfwy; 19 . 5 04 10 . 19 37 -18 . 19 14 = 1.00 . 26.3 52.6 - Mark Hughes.
Start; 10 . 3 02 05 . 11 20 -09 . 11 14 = 1.10 . 30.0 50.0
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 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.

POTTERS PREVIOUS PREM;
Seasn . W D L . . F A GD . . . Pt Po pt/gm . . W% L%
18/19 - 23/24 not Premier League.
17/18 - 07 12 19 . 35 68 -33 . 33 19 = 0.86 . 18.4 50.0 - 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 - 11 11 16 . 41 56 -15 . 44 13 = 1.15 . 28.9 42.1 - 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 - 14 09 15 . 41 55 -14 . 51 09 = 1.34 . 36.8 39.4 - 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 - 15 09 14 . 48 45 03 .. 54 09 = 1.42 . 39.4 36.8 - 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 - 13 11 14 . 45 52 -07 . 50 09 = 1.31 . 34.2 36.8 - 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.
12/13 - 09 15 14 . 34 45 -11 . 42 13 = 1.10 . 23.6 36.8
11/12 - 11 12 15 . 36 53 -17 . 45 14 = 1.18 . 28.9 39.4

FA CUP from 11/12; q-f, 4th rnd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, 5th
LEAGUE CUP; 4th rnd, 2nd, q-f, 4th, s-f, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, q-f, 4th, 1st.
* * * * *

Stoke - home, Falmer years.
Championship seasons 1-6 -
no meetings from 2011 to 2017.

* * * * *

Withdean Era: 12 seasons from 1999 to 2011.
Season3 01/2 - League One .
Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship.
Season12 10/11 (A) - FA Cup R5.

Withdean era: Albion v Stoke 1-0, 1-2, 0-1, 1-5 . . . W = 1 D = 0 L = 3
memorable match: Season7 (H) - last game of a disappointing season... and it showed.

see: Seasons 4, 6, 7 for club & stadium info. Also Martin Hinshelwood & Mark McGhee.

Stoke - Away, Falmer years:
17/18 Prem, season7 . '23 FA Cup, season12
Albion league record @ Potters: W = 0 D = 1 L = 0

STOKE @ HOME; Prem, Britannia Stad.
Seasn . W D L . F A GD . . Pt Po pt/gm %Pt . . W% L%
18/19 - 23/24 not Premier League.
17/18 - 5 5 09 . 20 30 -10 . 20 19 = 1.05 60.6 . 26.3 47.3 - Mark Hughes & Paul Lambert.
16/17 - 7 6 06 . 24 24 00 .. 27 13 = 1.42 61.3 . 36.8 31.5 - Mark Hughes.
15/16 - 8 4 07 . 22 24 -02 . 28 09 = 1.47 54.9 . 42.1 36.8 - Mark Hughes.
14/15 - 10 3 6 . 32 22 10 .. 33 09 = 1.73 61.1 . 52.6 31.5 - Mark Hughes.
13/14 - 10 6 3 . 27 17 10 .. 36 09 = 1.89 72.0 . 52.6 15.7 - Mark Hughes.

City v Albion (A) from 17/18: 1-1, -, -, -, -, -, - . . W = 0 D = 1 L = 0 . F1 A1
scorers: Izquierdo . FA Cup - Ferguson
memorable match: Season7 (A) - our first visit to the Britannia since a run of losing there during the Withdean era.
note: for home Falmer Years results & reports scroll further up.

Season13 (7th) (A) - not Premier League

Season12 FA Cup R5 (A) Tue 28/2/23 - w 0-1 ~ Ferguson
Albion were drawn for a knockout evening visit to the Potteries at very end of February - which was shown live on ITV4. Bizarrely BHA had been there before in FAC R5, during our last season based at Withdean - go to WE previous encounters for details. Things were very much different now from both the home & away point of view. You might say the footy boot was on the other foot because hosts were currently just another ex-Prem club adrift in the Championship, while we were riding the wave of elite participation. That reversal of fortunes occurred over our previous five Prem terms - see season7 below. Maybe lower league dreams of elevation do come true if you wait long enough. It had been a gutter to the stars rise for sure at Albion and for Brighton fans too all over the world. Prior to this tie head coach Roberto de Zerbi had been given a red card in a Prem fixture at the Amex and so was not altogether expected in the dugout on this occasion - in the event the actual ban rolled over into the next PL match. Lewis Dunk racked up 400 BHA apps on the night, earning lotsa loyalty points as well.
*** match report: on the night De Zerbi certainly was present around the technical area and shared applause with Brighton fans after Albion squeezed into quarter finals via a single goal victory. Ferguson scored the winner from Mitoma's low centre following a thru ball by Dunk (30mins). The rest of play was mostly forgettable with both sides having limited direct chances to net. As the tie moved past the hour mark subs came on and hosts pushed for a leveller. Visitors held firm, rode our luck and kept locals at bay during a frenetic last half hour. It was football but not as we know it of late - more a return to kick & rush of level two days. Potters threw in some rough stuff to boot as Ref was tolerant to basic English-style approaches for domestic cup contests. De Zerbi was full of praise for his match-day squad, while Brighton fans enjoyed a cold Tuesday night out on a hill top above the Trent. We were into quarter finals and that's what mattered most. A cup run? Who knew? It was a Saturday tie next anyway... or was it?
weather: breezy . gate: 12,949, away 2168 . MoM: Caicedo - strong
stats: ht 0-1, goal 30, poss 31%-69% on target 3-3, off target 8-11, corners 3-5, fouls 14-10, yellows 2-1, subs 5-4, shape 433-4231
team: 23 Steele 2 Lamptey 29 van Hecke 5 Dunk 13 Gross 10 Mac Allister 25 Caicedo 19 Sarmiento 40 Buonanotte 22 Mitoma 28 Ferguson
subs: 34 Veltman 69 (40), 21 Undav 69 (28), 20 Enciso 75 (22), 18 Welbeck 78 (19)
bench: 1 Sanchez 38 McGill (gk) 4 Webster 49 Moran 71 Hinshelwood
injured: 6 Colwill 7 March 14 Lallana 27 Gilmour 30 Estupinan
rehab: 15 Moder . squad: 26 Ayari

Seasons 8-12 (2nd-6th) (A) - not Premier League.

Season 7 1st 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.
*** match report: 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 = 1.03pt/gm . Wins = 18.5%, Loss = 40.7%
* * * * *

Stoke - away, Falmer years.
Championship seasons 1-6 -
no meetings from 2011 to 2017.
* * * * *

Withdean Era: 12 seasons from 1999 to 2011.
Season3 01/2 - League One .
Seasons 4 02/3, 6 04/5, 7 05/6 - Championship.
Season12 19/2/11 (A) - FA Cup R5.

Withdean era: Stoke v Albion 3-1, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 . . . W = 0 D = 0 L = 4
L 3-0 FA Cup.
memorable match: Season4 - Seagulls were battling to beat the drop and this was a tough place to go get a result.

Noughties last there - 19/2/11 (A) FA Cup R5.
The Britannia Stadium is a draughty old place to go sit at best of times... and guess what in mid February?
5/11/05 (A) C'ship.
Another beating at a venue we just couldn't settle into during that first half of the decade.

see: Seasons 4, 6,7 for club & stadium info. Also Peter Taylor, Steve Coppell & Mark McGhee.