Premier League preview: Bolton vs Stoke

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Bolton travel to Stoke City on the final day of the season needing three points and a Manchester City win to secure Premier League survival.

Bolton, in 18th on 35 points, trail Queens Park Rangers, who face City away on Sunday, by two points.

Should they fail to win at Stoke or if QPR force a result, Bolton will join the already consigned Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers in the Championship next season.

However, victory at the Britannia Stadium coupled with a City win would see Bolton move out of the relegation zone and into Premier League safety at the expense of QPR.

Bolton skipper Kevin Davies urged his side to replicate recent away wins against Wolves and Aston Villa.

"It would be a great escape," Davies told the official Bolton website.

"Let's hope we can do it the hard way because you know it will be difficult at Stoke and they'll want to finish the season off in style.

"It is all hands to the pump and we know we'll have to pull out a massive result. But we have done it before - we did it at Aston Villa - we need some heroes.

"You need to be putting your body on the line and we haven't been doing that enough."

Bolton have kept just one clean sheet - at home to Arsenal in a scoreless draw in February - in their last 26 outings.

Stoke, in 14th on 44 points, are winless in their last five matches but cannot finish lower than their current position on the table.

Tony Pulis' side can climb to 11th with a win over Bolton should Sunderland, Swansea and Norwich drop points in their final outings.

Bolton thrashed Stoke 5-0 last time the sides met at Reebok Stadium in November.

Premier League preview: Arsenal vs Stoke

koclokindoblog, 27 April 2012, Arsenal's bid to secure an automatic Champions League place continues with a clash against Stoke City on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's men have won just two of their last five English Premier League matches, giving the in-form Newcastle United some hope of finishing third.

Injuries have affected Arsenal in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta and Theo Walcott ruled out for the rest of the season.

Spaniard Arteta has been a big loss in midfield, while the form of prolific goalscorer Robin van Persie is also worrying.

Van Persie, who still tops the Premier League scoring charts with 27 goals, has netted just once in his last seven outings.

Arsenal's reliance on the Dutchman was always set to hurt them at some point this campaign, with their recent struggles coinciding with van Persie's poor form.

Joining the likes of Arteta and Walcott on the sidelines are Francis Coquelin, Per Mertesacker, Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere.

But the visitors should still have enough quality to secure all three points against mid-table Stoke at Britannia Stadium.

Tony Pulis' men cannot be relegated and are unable to book a European berth for next season.

Normally reliable in defence, Stoke have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games, including in the 3-0 loss to Newcastle last time out.

With just one win in their last eight league outings, Stoke have slipped to 14th on the table with little to play for in their remaining matches.

The likes of Salif Diao and Mamady Sidibe are sidelined.

Pulis is likely to persist with striker Jonathan Walters, who missed several chances in the loss to Newcastle.

"Jon could have had a hat-trick – and not a very difficult hat-trick. I'm not picking on him because he's done fantastic for us and kept going," he said.

"The best thing about him is that he will never stop getting into positions. His attitude and strength of character is fantastic and that's why we pick him every week."

 

soccerway.com

Crouch: Best goal of my career

koclokindoblog.blogspot.com, 25 maret 2012,

Peter Crouch has described his goal in Stoke City's 1-1 draw with Manchester City as the best of his career.

The lanky striker collected a Jermaine Pennant header with his chest before volleying past keeper Joe Hart in the 59th minute of Saturday's Premier League encounter.

Yaya Toure equalised for the visitors but that did not stop Crouch revelling in his strike.

"It's probably the best goal I've ever scored." he told ESPN.

"I always enjoy a volley but they don't normally fly in like that. Every day in training I practice volleying, and when the ball dropped I popped it up and went for it."

Crouch, who joined Stoke from Tottenham in the summer, also talked up his chances of making the England squad for Euro 2012 given his recent form.

"I knew when I signed for Stoke that if I am playing games and scoring goals then I'd have a chance to play for England and there is a big competition coming up.," he said.

"I hope I get a chance and I'd grab it with both hands."

Meanwhile, Yaya has urged his team-mates not to panic as the title race rumbles on.

"It is really important now not to panic. Today we drew against a good team," he said.

"It is always tough to play against Stoke, but I think the most important thing is to keep going, continuing to work hard.

"Hopefully, if United can continue to drop points that will be important for the title race. I think we have to work hard and continue being ourselves."

Yaya also spoke about City's faltering away form since Christmas and admitted that it was always going to be tough against Stoke.

"It is difficult because of the pressure and away it is always more difficult," he said.

"Stoke are very hard and very strong on the break and I think we deserved to draw today because Stoke did play very well and cause us a lot of problems.

"I think the most important thing is that we keep winning and wait for Monday and see what United do."

soccerway.com