Man City v Stoke FA Cup R5 2010

Yet another boring game at Eastlands watched by a poor crowd. Some 17,000 below the average attendance made for a poor atmosphere and even Stoke had only taken up 3000 of their allowance. Only Bridge and Wright-Phillips deserve any praise in a lack lustre display. We hardly had any shots on goal and the lack of support from midfield is becoming worrying. We really missed Tevez today ( back in Argentine for several days) and certainly the cuptied Adam Johnson. SWP did his best on the right wing but Petrov disappointed on the left. Bridge watched by the England Manager played one of his best ever games for City both in attack and defence. There was little creativity to make goal chances in the final third. Viera who came on for ireland after 70 odd minutes looks a shadow of his former self.
In the first half City were well on top and should have made the game safe but Stoke were always dangerous from dead ball situations and its not going to be easy in the replay. The last thing we wanted was a replay with so many important games coming up.

City had several changes. Both Kompany and Tevez were missing. There were returns for SWP, Ireland and Lescott

Our under 18's showed off their new trophy won in a recent tournament in Abu Dhabi

Bridge who had to contend with taunts from the Stoke fans was soon on the attack and his cross was eventually saved by Sorenson

Adebayor tries to break through the packed Stoke defence

A cross from Petrov is saved with difficulty by Sorensen

Lescott heads clear a Stoke corner

Barry clears from Diao

After 10 minutes Ireland put a good pass through to Wright-Phillips who found himself in the clear.....

..... and as the Stoke defence made a mess of defending SWP coolly slotted the ball into the net to give City an early lead

SWP is congratulated by his mates

This was the moment Etherington hurt his knee while trying to stop a cross from Bridge.He was substituted by Lawrence

Next to Gary Cooke is England Manager Fabio Capello who no doubt was here to see the form of Wayne Bridge who was in excellent shape both in defence and attack

All hands to the pump for the City defence

Bridge blocks a shot by Lawrence

This Stoke corner ends with one of their players being injured at the back of the net. The second time a player had to be treated off the field (Etherington being the first)

Toure blocks a Fuller shot

Here we have the unusual sight of Given catching well outside his goal!

On 37 minutes SWP was away again on the right wing......

He was brought down right on the edge of the penalty area and Wilkinson got a yellow card

Petrov took the free kick but it went wide of the far post

Bridge and Given combine to thwart Lawrence

A shot from distance almost caught Given out but it just went wide

Yet another off the field injury when Lawrence was injured. On came Stoke's secret weapon - Rory Delap - Oh dear!

On 56 minutes Stoke were level. Their secret weapon - the long throw from Delap found the head of Fuller who scored. Well the City defence would have been well prepared against the long throws but Given was glued to his goal line and the marking was also suspect so not a good goal for City to concede.

Given and Zabaleta manage to clear from Fuller

Huth heads clear a City corner

Shawcross holds Adebayor but fails to be penalized - again!

Given makes a 'look no hands' save!

On 78 minutes Barry has a header from a corner saved by Sorensen

A Bridge shot is blocked by Tuncay

City had several corners but failed to make an impression

An effort by SWP fails to find the net and City are running out of time

Very late in the game Santa Cruz missed a golden chance to put City into the next round when he had only the keeper to beat