Hughton: 'Concerned? Let Stoke Worry About Us'

Last updated : 24 September 2010 By Footy Mad - Editor

Chris Hughton: "We know what you get from Stoke.

"They're an established Premier Legaue team. They can be difficult opponents.

"They're a physical side, and they've improved every year.

"They play a high-tempo game, and are very good at set plays, like Rory Delap's long throws.

"That's what we're up against, but we won't worry too much about their game.

"If you do that, you don't impose your game on them, which is what we want to do."

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STOKE CITY - CURRENT FORM:

Stoke 2 Fulham 0
SEPTEMBER 21: Carling Cup third round at the Britannia Stadium.   
 
Stoke 1 West Ham 1
SEPTEMBER 18: Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.  
 
Stoke 2 Aston Villa 1
SEPTEMBER 13: Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.   
 
Chelsea 2 Stoke 0
AUGUST 28: Barclays Premier League at Stamford Bridge.   
 
Stoke 2 Shrewsbury 1
AUGUST 24: Carling Cup second round at the Britannia Stadium.  
 
Stoke 1 Tottenham 2
AUGUST 21: Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium.  
 
Wolves 2 Stoke 1
AUGUST 14: Barclays Premier League at Molineux.

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STOKE'S LAST MATCH: STOKE 2 FULHAM 0

Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham, Sanli (Pugh 83), Diao (Delap 68), Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Fuller (Walters 75). Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Soares, Tonge.

Headers from Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones secured Stoke victory over Fulham at the Britannia Stadium and a place in the Carling Cup fourth round.

Higginbotham gave the Potters the lead in the 23rd minute, arriving at the far post to convert Matthew Etherington's corner.

Jones wrapped up the win with his third goal in three games, rising to meet Rory Delap's throw-in with 11 minutes remaining.

Stoke made the more positive start and after Tuncay Sanli had won a free-kick in a useful position but blazed it over, his strike partner Ricardo Fuller saw his header palmed around the post by Mark Schwarzer.

Tempers flared just before the quarter-hour mark when Etherington brought down Moussa Dembele with a rash challenge.

Cottagers captain Danny Murphy reacted by throwing the ball at Etherington, and after a minor skirmish, referee Mark Halsey booked both players.

Murphy then went some way to redeeming himself by blocking a shot from Jones in the box, before Brede Hangeland sent a header goalwards at the other end but could not trouble goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who was making his first appearance of the season having been left out of the Potters squad to face Shrewsbury in the previous round after he reportedly refused to play.

Moments later Stoke went in front thanks the head of Higginbotham, who made the perfect connection with Etherington's corner by crashing the ball across Schwarzer and in.

The hosts were good value for their lead with Tuncay, in the team for Jon Walters, looking particularly lively.

The Turkey international fired an acrobatic effort from outside the box which Schwarzer was equal to and Etherington also tried something spectacular soon after, slipping as he hit a shot from distance that went over the crossbar.

Fulham won the ball back and Clint Dempsey teed up Zoltan Gera, who drove powerfully at Begovic.

Dempsey then saw his free-kick deflect over off the Stoke wall and scuffed a shot into Begovic's arms.

Jones almost scored within seconds of the restart as Stoke surged forward, but the Trinidadian's effort flew wide.

Play switched and Carlos Salcido sent an effort off-target before the hosts survived a real scare.

Begovic flapped at a cross from Gera in the 54th minute and the ball dropped to Dempsey, but the goalkeeper's blushes were spared as the American volleyed it over the crossbar.

Fulham boss Mark Hughes responded by introducing another attacking option, with Eddie Johnson coming on for Simon Davies.

It was Stoke who came closest next, Glenn Whelan receiving Tuncay's free-kick and unleashing a drive that whistled just over.

The Potters were sloppy in the box again soon after though, with Dempsey almost capitalising but unable to guide the ball beyond Begovic.

Fulham were suddenly looking the more incisive outfit and Stoke did just about enough to put Johnson off as he fired an effort wide.

Dembele then sent a fierce effort the wrong side of the post and was involved again moments later in a move that resulted in Dickson Etuhu heading over.

By this stage though, the Potters had Delap, a 68th-minute replacement for Salif Diao, on the field, and it did not take long for him to make the desired impact.

A little over 10 minutes after coming on, Delap launched a trademark long throw into the Fulham box and Jones beat Schwarzer to head it home.

Gera curled a shot wide and Stoke fans cried out for a penalty when Andy Wilkinson was tackled late on.

Wilkinson then picked up a booking after bringing down Dembele, who had to be carried off on a stretcher.

Substitute Danny Pugh had a shot saved late on, but the hosts had done enough and their place in last 16 was confirmed as Halsey blew for full-time.

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LAST TIME THEY PLAYED AT ST JAMES' PARK - 2008/9 NEWCASTLE 2 STOKE 2

NEWCASTLE: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, N'Zogbia, Geremi (Cacapa 82), Guthrie (Taylor 46), Gutierrez,Owen, Martins (Viduka 74).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Xisco, Edgar, Carroll.

STOKE: Sorensen, Griffin, Sonko, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham,Delap (Fuller 57), Amdy Faye (Tonge 78), Diao (Whelan 21),Pugh, Cresswell, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Olofinjana, Cort, Davies.

Att: 47,422

Even Michael Owen's return to goalscoring form could not bring Newcastle a victory as former Magpie Abdoulaye Faye snatched a point for Stoke.

Owen struck twice inside the opening 24 minutes to give his side the perfect platform at St James' Park.

However, the loss of midfielder Danny Guthrie at half-time exposed the lack of depth in Joe Kinnear's squad and a desperate second-half display allowed the visitors to fight their way back into a game which should have been beyond them.

Mamady Sidibe pulled one back on the hour and Faye levelled in injury time as a late onslaught finally paid dividends in front of a largely devastated crowd of 47,422.

Eleven months ago to the day Sam Allardyce took his Newcastle side to then Coca-Cola Championship Stoke for an FA Cup third-round tie and returned delighted with a 0-0 draw.

However, owner Mike Ashley decided on the evidence of that 90 minutes that enough was enough and the former Bolton boss, now favourite for the vacant post at Sunderland, was on his way.

Ten days later Kevin Keegan sat in the stands at St James' Park and watched the side he had agreed to take over win the replay 4-1.

Had the former England manager been in the same seat today, he would have been celebrating in similar fashion as the Magpies took the game by the scruff of the neck before the break.

Goalless draws at Chelsea and Middlesbrough in their previous two games had demonstrated a commendable resilience, but they knew this was a game they needed to win and set about the task with some relish.

Owen and Obafemi Martins revelled in the service they were given back on home turf with the £17million man Owen in particular making the most of the opportunities which came his way.

With nine minutes gone Jonas Gutierrez cut inside from the right to roll the ball into his path and Owen slid it past Thomas Sorensen and inches inside the post.

There was less finesse about his second, lunging in at the far post intent simply on making contact with Martins' driven cross, but the outcome was the same.

Indeed, had it not been for the heroics of defender Danny Higginbotham - one of three Sunderland old boys in a Stoke side which included as many former Magpies - who twice blocked Jonas' shots in front of goal, the game could have been over by the break.

The Potters threatened only fleetingly, with some of the sting taken out of Rory Delap's long throw by the close proximity of the advertising hoardings to the playing surface.

However, they might have got themselves back into the game six minutes before half-time had former Newcastle defender Abdoulaye Faye managed to direct a free header at goal from substitute Glenn Whelan's free-kick.

Guthrie's failure to reappear after the break on an afternoon when Nicky Butt missed out with a hamstring injury left Kinnear short of midfield options, and his response was inventive.

Jonas moved into the middle as Habib Beye took over on the right, with substitute Steven Taylor replacing him at full-back.

But in what proved to be an intensely uncomfortable second half for the home side, Ibrahima Sonko headed a 47th-minute Whelan free-kick across goal, and they were opened up for the first time five minutes later.

Sidibe found acres of space down the right and had time to pick out Richard Cresswell in the middle.

He looked certain to score until Taylor arrived from nowhere to make a superb block and prevent Shay Given from having to make his first genuine save of the game.

The threat represented by Delap ended with 57 minutes gone when he was replaced by striker Ricardo Fuller as the home defence was handed a different test.

It was one they failed within three minutes when the newcomer worked his way into the box from the right and crossed for Sidibe to score from close range.

Abdoulaye Faye might have levelled in the final minute of normal time, but he made amends in injury time when he stabbed home from Whelan's free-kick.

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NEWCASTLE v STOKE - THE HISTORY:

 2008/2009 Sat 11 Apr Stoke City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League  
  Sat 06 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City Premier League  
 2007/2008 Wed 16 Jan Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup  
  Sun 06 Jan Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup  
 1995/1996 Wed 25 Oct Stoke City 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. League Cup  
 1989/1990 Mon 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke City Second Division  
  Tue 26 Dec Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division  
 1984/1985 Sat 04 May Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 01 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
 1978/1979 Sat 28 Apr Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division  
  Sat 09 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Stoke City Second Division  
 1976/1977 Tue 15 Mar Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 30 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke City First Division  
  Wed 22 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke City League Cup  
 1975/1976 Wed 03 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 25 Oct Stoke City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1974/1975 Sat 19 Apr Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 12 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division  
 1973/1974 Wed 03 Apr Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 03 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
 1972/1973 Sat 10 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 14 Oct Stoke City 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1971/1972 Mon 08 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 27 Nov Stoke City 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1970/1971 Sat 09 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Stoke City First Division  
  Wed 19 Aug Stoke City 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1969/1970 Sat 21 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 06 Dec Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1968/1969 Wed 30 Apr Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 07 Dec Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1967/1968 Sat 06 Jan Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
 1966/1967 Mon 27 Mar Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Fri 24 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
 1965/1966 Sat 26 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 11 Sep Stoke City 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1962/1963 Wed 01 May Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 Stoke City Second Division  
  Sat 06 Oct Stoke City 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division  
 1961/1962 Sat 14 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Stoke City Second Division  
  Sat 25 Nov Stoke City 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division  
 1960/1961 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup  
 1955/1956 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup  
 1952/1953 Sat 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 20 Sep Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1951/1952 Sat 15 Dec Stoke City 4 - 5 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 18 Aug Newcastle Utd. 6 - 0 Stoke City First Division  
 1950/1951 Sat 10 Feb Stoke City 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup  
  Sat 16 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
  Sat 19 Aug Stoke City 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1949/1950 Sat 18 Feb Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 01 Oct Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke City First Division  
 1948/1949 Sat 22 Jan Stoke City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 11 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division  
 1933/1934 Sat 28 Apr Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 16 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division  
 1922/1923 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division  
  Sat 14 Apr Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1909/1910 Wed 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke F.A. Cup  
  Sat 15 Jan Stoke 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup  
 1906/1907 Fri 29 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division  
  Wed 26 Dec Stoke 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1905/1906 Tue 24 Apr Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke First Division  
  Sat 16 Dec Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1904/1905 Fri 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke First Division  
  Sat 22 Oct Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1903/1904 Sat 23 Jan Stoke 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 26 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division  
 1902/1903 Sat 03 Jan Stoke 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 06 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke First Division  
 1901/1902 Sat 11 Jan Stoke 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Stoke First Division  
 1900/1901 Sat 12 Jan Stoke 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
  Sat 15 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke First Division  
 1899/1900 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke First Division  
  Sat 16 Dec Stoke 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1898/1899 Sat 21 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke First Division  
  Sat 24 Sep Stoke 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division  
 1897/1898 Fri 23 Apr Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Test Match  
  Tue 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke Test Match