An ugly win is

[1882Clarets1882]

Still a win.

Big 3 points is that . At the start of the season we'd probably have drawn that. As a team they're learning to win when they're not a their best and grind results out. Great to see.

Well done lads !

[jdrobbo]

We won without barely breaking sweat tonight. We lacked fluidity and Stoke pressed well, whilst offering a physical presence. I sense we had several years in reserve. Very, very comfortable

[Tribesmen]

That's how Championship winners win really

[ElectroClaret]

...something that puts us 14 points clear of 3rd place.

[bfcmik]

Credit to Stoke they found a way to stifle us. Expect to see teams try that 5 in midfield and high press. That said I didn't think we were totally on our front foot today, an awful lot of misplaced passing and little real cohesion.

As said above, sometimes you just have the get those points and be grateful for them.

[Sheedyclaret]

Gritty 3 points while nowhere near at our best sign of champions

[Spijed]

What do Man City see in Liam Delap?

Regardless of how Stoke play you'd think individual ability would shine through but in both our games he's looked poor.

[Conroysleftfoot]

That league table is looking mighty fine.

[tiger76]

A beautiful way to see out 2022 as a Claret.

[RVclaret]

Credit to Stoke they found a way to stifle us. Expect to see teams try that 5 in midfield and high press. That said I didn't think we were totally on our front foot today, an awful lot of misplaced passing and little real cohesion.

As said above, sometimes you just have the get those points and be grateful for them.

With Churlinov lacking match fitness and looking rusty (to be expected) and Barnes lacking the movement and finesse of Jay, they stifled a lot of our play (plus Stoke pressed well as you say).

[Buxtonclaret]

Winning these games is part of our new team's learning curve.
Only side to really boss us this season, were Sheff Utd. ( second half )
Looking forward to them coming to the Turf.
UTC

[Vegas Claret]

we lose that at the beginning of the season imho, we've come very far very quickly

[Casper]

We played better against Watford and lost

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Solid but playing Churlinov was a mistake I think. He’s very average. I hear what people say about him being rusty but you have to take your chance when given it - like Zahouri, Beyer and Benson did

[boatshed bill]

Solid but playing Churlinov was a mistake I think. He’s very average. I hear what people say about him being rusty but you have to take your chance when given it - like Zahouri, Beyer and Benson did

We have to get these players up to match fitness.
Twine in vs Swansea?

[warksclaret]

At the start of the season we might have caved in and conceded a late goal, but today we were in control and in the second half we never really came under pressure

[Spijed]

It's excellent that we've become more pragmatic as the season has gone on.

We now know when to pass it around at the back and when to get rid so none of the stupid mistakes happen like they did against Blackpool.

Has my seal of approval!

[agreenwood]

It's excellent that we've become more pragmatic as the season has gone on.

We now know when to pass it around at the back and when to get rid so none of the stupid mistakes happen like they did against Blackpool.

Has my seal of approval!

We’ll that’s a relief for all of us.

[jedi_master]

We’d absolutely have drawn that in the first ten or so games.

We looked very comfortable after going ahead. First half was a struggle.

[Vegas Claret]

Solid but playing Churlinov was a mistake I think. He’s very average. I hear what people say about him being rusty but you have to take your chance when given it - like Zahouri, Beyer and Benson did

just a reminder Benson was dreadful for the first month or so, give Churlinov time

[RVclaret]

Solid but playing Churlinov was a mistake I think. He’s very average. I hear what people say about him being rusty but you have to take your chance when given it - like Zahouri, Beyer and Benson did

Bit harsh. You’ve got to get match fitness somehow. I thought he showed a few flashes of promise but ultimately his touch deserted him. He was much better at West Brom and Wigan earlier in the season.

[Greenmile]

Our worst performance of the season with the obvious exception of Bramall Lane, imo, but a win is a win is a win.

[Commy]

That might just be our hardest game of the season but the players will have learned a lot. Stoke had no intention of playing football. Their intention was to stop us playing and hope for a chance to put away.

[Goalposts]

With Churlinov lacking match fitness and looking rusty (to be expected) and Barnes lacking the movement and finesse of Jay, they stifled a lot of our play (plus Stoke pressed well as you say).

I think at the moment churlinov can still come good, but tonight illustrated to me against the physical sides we need another number 9, if jays injured and this is Barnes last year with us. We need another physical presence in the front line. Jay was excellent tonight when he came on dropping deeper and finding space and linking up

[Vino blanco]

Fabulous 3 points, that’s all I’m bothered about.

[NewClaret]

Bit harsh. You’ve got to get match fitness somehow. I thought he showed a few flashes of promise but ultimately his touch deserted him. He was much better at West Brom and Wigan earlier in the season.

Didn’t help that Stoke were tight and basically man marking the wide men. Basically meant there was no space, typically had to come to the ball to win it then had their backs to goal.

Zaroury was also marked out of the game so not sure tonight was a good night to judge.

That said, I didn’t agree with the decision to start Churlinov and feel he should be introduced from the bench.

[Greenmile]

just a reminder Benson was dreadful for the first month or so, give Churlinov time

Was he? My memory is terrible and I’ve not checked but didn’t he change the game on his debut (Millwall?) and play pretty well (if not to the ridiculous standard of the last couple of months) thereafter.

I remember him being kicked out of the game against Watford (? -maybe that was his debut), but I can’t remember any other games where he’s come close to being “dreadful”

(This isn’t an argument against a Churlinov being given more time, btw)

[RVclaret]

I think at the moment churlinov can still come good, but tonight illustrated to me against the physical sides we need another number 9, if jays injured and this is Barnes last year with us. We need another physical presence in the front line. Jay was excellent tonight when he came on dropping deeper and finding space and linking up

Yeah completely agree.

[Clarets4me]

.... still 3 points gained when you open up the paper in the morning !

[NottsClaret]

We shouldn’t underestimate the two days recovery time either, I’m convinced it is behind our worst performances at Sheff Utd and first half tonight. We looked lethargic again, until the subs came on fresh and lifted everyone.

[dsr]

We have to get these players up to match fitness.
Twine in vs Swansea?

Perhaps he'll get his chance if and when Cork gets his 10th booking.

[bobinho]

Quite frankly, an ugly win or two is what gets you up.

[Rowls]

This is the most pleasing aspect for me tonight: We won it ugly.

Make no mistake, if we hadn't scrapped that goal we'd have found a way of scrapping a different goal.

We'd have lost this game in the early weeks of the season. Stoke set out to bully us and they came away with nothing but bruises.

[Juan Tanamera]

Solid but playing Churlinov was a mistake I think. He’s very average. I hear what people say about him being rusty but you have to take your chance when given it - like Zahouri, Beyer and Benson did

Benson was getting knocked from pillar to post in his early games.
Good coaching from Kompany and Company toughened him up somewhat.
Churlinov has plenty of time to go down the same route as Benny.