Ticket = £40
Train (Stockport-Stoke) = £13
Tea = £2-20
Programme = £3-50
Street pie = £3
Total = £61-70
As the non league season is pretty much done, my radar has been out for any Premier League grounds I've not yet done. Stoke was a good punt, being a quicker trip and avoiding Manchester for once. I've actually been to Stoke twice already this season. Firstly for Market Drayton in November, then for Hanley Town in February, games which have bookended a long winter of ground hopping.
After collecting my ticket from the far side of the ground, I found my way into the Boothen End, grabbing an excellent 'street pie' and a tea. It was just after 2 and the ground was fairly sparsely populated. The Boothen end where I was sat formed the lower half of an L-shaped stand structure, with the 2 other stands being standalone. The ground suddenly filled up quite close to KO and a great atmosphere started building.
On paper there was still something hanging on this game, with Spurs looking to secure Europa League football. Stoke on the other hand were aiming to match their highest points total in the Premier League and their highest spot of 8th. The first thing I noticed was that when Danny Rose's name was read out for Spurs a loud boo rang out across the stadium - sounds like there is history there!
The game was, like QPR last week, a good entertaining Premier League affair. The main threats for a composed and well organised Stoke were Ryan Shawcross and Arnautavic, with the latter causing Spurs plenty of problems on the wing. Stoke deservedly took the lead when Charlie Adam - on a hot goal scoring streak - headed into the far corner after a deflected cross. Spurs have plenty of talent in their side, and very nearly equalised when they clipped the bar. Ryan Mason was one of the bright sparks in their side today. But they cannot seem to defend, and after a mix-up between Lloris and his centre backs, Nzonzi slotted in from inside the area to make it 2-0.
I realised that Stoke were doing Liverpool a favour here, with the Reds hoping to secure 5th place at least. I crossed my fingers they could continue this in the second period. The KO was delayed by a somewhat bizarre protest, with a bald chap with a moustache diving onto the pitch in some kind of jump suit! It certainly held the match up though the poster he held up was barely readable so the essence of his protest was lost.
The second half continued in the same positive vein for Stoke. Within 10 minutes of the restart, Spurs were down to 10 men, with 6 sent off for a second yellow. Despite their rather elaborate fan formation, Spurs now looked out of this game and the Potters were far superior. Charlie Adam and Jonathan Walters could and perhaps should have increased their advantage, but it barely seemed to matter as there was hardly any threat from Tottenham. To round off proceedings, Miame Diouf, who had looked ropey all game, tapped in from close range. A poachers goal to make it 3-0. I made it back to the station for the 5.20 train, and after a change at Stockport somehow made it through the door at 7.15.
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