Stoke City couldn’t find a much-needed home win that would have been a big boost to their survival chances – but they did find a long-awaited home equaliser that keeps rivals Huddersfield Town at arm’s length.
It was Huddersfield who led after a first half of poor quality and few chances, with Bojan Radulovic having the space to spin and score in the 45th minute.
But Ki-Jana Hoever struck early in the second-half, the right-back’s second goal in two games and this one a fine hit, coming in from the right and planting a left footer beyond Lee Nicholls into the far corner. Incredibly, that was Stoke’s first home equaliser since December 2022 – and that run has not involved a lack of opportunities to come from behind.
REACTION: Stoke 1 Huddersfield 1
At one point, Stoke were building pressure and it felt they could go on to find a winner too but there wasn’t enough conviction in the final third – and in the end there were moments late on when Huddersfield might have won it as well.
Stoke drop a place to 18th but stay five points above third-bottom Huddersfield with six games remaining to still dictate both clubs’ fates.
Steven Schumacher had made four changes to his starting XI, with Enda Stevens, Ryan Mmaee, Sead Haksabanovic and Luke Cundle dropping to the bench after their efforts in Friday’s win at Hull. In came Wouter Burger, Bae Junho, Niall Ennis and Lewis Baker, with Jordan Thompson shifting to left-back.
Matty Pearson thought he’d given the visitors the lead from a corner, a header too free despite Stoke having eight men in their own area. The ball flew past Daniel Iversen – but the flag went up. Pat Jones was offside standing in front of the keeper.
It looked like the match was drifting to 0-0 at the break but Stoke didn’t deal with a Jack Rudoni run into deep and, having reached the touchline, he was given the space and time to turn and head back towards the left corner of the area. A soft pass inside found Jaheim Headley completely unmarked just outside the D. McNally charged out in panic and Headley pushed a pass to the man McNally was marking, Radulovic, now free just to the left of the penalty spot. Radulovic took a touch and shifted to his right past Michael Rose, spinning and crashing a shot inside the right post.
It was actually Huddersfield who started the second half brighter and panic in the Stoke rearguard earned a stern word to defenders from Burger.
But it was Stoke who got the next goal. Thompson advanced high up the pitch and played a one-two with Leris before nudging the ball right for Hoever to take two touches with his right foot to set himself up on his left, dispatching a fine shot beyond Nicholls and into the far corner. Hoever had his tail up and fancied adding another moments later only to hit a drifting shot that trickled past the post.
Schumacher made a double change to try to stay on the front foot, swapping Ennis and Leris for Mmaee and Million Manhoef.
Burger broke into the area when he seized on a pass from Manhoef but Nicholls made the save one-on-one – and Stoke twice went close from the corner that followed. Laurent’s header was stopped by the keeper and McNally’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Rudoni.
Huddersfield weren’t threatening much at that point but McNally did need to sprint back, dive in and take one high on the thigh to stop a Delano Burgzorg shot when they sneaked beyond the defence. Burgzorg then skinned McNally before hitting a low shot into Iversen’s knee at the near post.
At the full-time whistle, both sets of supporters were applauding – disappointed to only have one point but more relieved not to have lost.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium:
Iversen: Makes a big difference with his positioning, seizing on balls played over the Stoke back line. Important late save with knee. 7
Hoever: Brilliantly taken goal was Stoke’s first equaliser at home since December 2022. 7
Thompson: Played important part in the equaliser with run into deep from left-back. 6
Rose: Will think he was beaten too easily by Radulovic as he tried to cover his mate. 5
McNally: Raced out of his position to try to make block to make space for Huddersfield opener. Header cleared off line at other end and big tackle on Burgzorg. 5
Burger: Too isolated in midfield in first half and held things together as best he could. A couple of driving runs into dangerous areas. 7
Baker: Long ranger comfortably saved and super free-kick effort clipped bar but wasn’t influencing the game enough in open play. 5
Laurent: Not involved enough in first half. Better in second as he dropped deeper and tried to spread the play. 6
Leris: A useful out ball in the front line and links well with Hoever. 6
Junho: Some gilded footwork but couldn’t keep ahead of Pearson in foot race when sent through. 6
Ennis: A willing runner but didn’t stretch the Huddersfield defence as much as needed nor offer a threat in his own right. 6
Substitutes
Haksabanovic (for Baker, 46): Wanted to be involved in things with sharp movements and touches in the final third. 7
Manhoef (for Leris, 56): Able to run at defenders and has an eye for a creative pass. 6
Mmaee (for Ennis, 56): A couple of neat pieces of link-up play and still waiting for chances of his own since return from cold. 6
Stevens (for Burger, 86): Late cameo as Burger limped off. 6
Not used: Bonham, Vidigal, Campbell, Wilmot, Cundle.
Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire) 5
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