I Love Stoke City

Potteries Football Blog

Month: December 2011

No Stoke complaint over missiles

Posted on December 16, 2011  in Stoke

Stoke will not make a complaint to UEFA despite a number of their players being targeted by missiles in the recent clash against Besiktas.

Ricardo Fuller and Jermaine Pennant had a number of items thrown at them as they played in the Inonu stadium, but according to manager Tony Pulis the English club will not be asking for the incidents to be examined.

He claimed that Stoke “won’t be complaining to anyone” as they were not that kind of club.

However, Pennant revealed the exact nature of what had gone on, claiming that coins and lighters had been thrown at him as he looked to take a set piece.

“I didn’t want to take [the corner] because every second I could see things flying past me,” he said. “Until that stopped, I didn’t feel comfortable taking the corner and then obviously the referee called me away.”

He added that as he had played in the stadium before, he knew what to expect in terms of atmosphere.

Despite this, Pennant, who came on as a half-time substitute, he was unable to help Stoke secure victory and they went down to a 3-1 defeat. Those following the weekend Premier League betting odds will be wondering if the side can bounce back.

The English club took the lead through Fuller’s deflected strike, but when Matthew Upson conceded a penalty and was sent off, the game changed.

Manuel Fernandes equalised from the resulting kick, before Mustafa Pektemek and Edu secured the win.

The result was enough to send Besiktas through to the next round, while Stoke had already secured their progress.

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