Better side for large spells, but undone by valiant Stoke

The Blues this evening exited the FA Cup at Stoke in an interesting and fiery encounter at the Britannia. Sub Dave Kitson put the home side ahead, a lovely move involving a one-two with Tuncay. Craig Bellamy got us level, the full-time score 1-1, as you might expect given the two previous battles. A late Emanuel Adebayor red card pretty much ended out hopes of facing Chelsea, with Ryan Shawcorss and Tuncay grabbing extra-time goals.

The first half-hour was as well as we've played under Mancini. The football was incise, to feet, the movement of the forward players was terrific and we were thoroughly on top. Ade collected a good few yards outside of the area and smashed a shot at Sorensen, and a quick break out of our half involving Ade again and Stevie Ireland almost resulted in an opener. Positives can be taken, but we didn't take the chances carved and and so in one sense can't have many complaints that the opposition did.

For the majority of the first half we completely negated Stoke's aerial threat by keeping the ball on the deck and always looking for the quick ball. At that point it looked likely we'd get a break at some point, but it wasn't to be, and towards the end Stoke at least come into the game a little, although their chances were pretty much non-existent.

Tony Pulis shook things up ten minutes into the second period, Tuncay replacing midfield ratter Salif Diao, and in a more natural 4-4-2 Stoke contained us better, our passing game going a bit astray for a while. A Gareth Barry header almost saw us take the lead, but fellow sub Kitson combined superbly with Tuncay to put the Potters ahead, the two exchanging passes and the former Reading ginge sweeping home with his left foot.

Having got back on level terms through a terrific strike from Craig Bellamy, lashing in after Adebayor had headed down a Bridge cross, the impetus seemed with us, but raising your hands in the way of an opponent is always likely to be met with a red card. I'm sure Ade didn't mean to jab Shawcross, but his hand made contact after they partook in niggles and Bennett, as much as he had a poor game, didn't really have much of a decision to make. Naive at best.

From then on we lost any chance we had of progressing, though Mancini did at least go for it, bringing on Roque Santa Cruz for Bridge, but he had little impact. Adebayor had been imperious until that moment of madness, the best player on the park by some distance, and without him as our talisman we were only ever likely to go tumbling out. Stoke pushed on, and Tuncay gave them a real outlet, with him and the improving Fuller having as much time as they needed on the ball to make the most of their extra man.

Indeed, Fuller deserves special praise. They were losing the physical battle first half and both of their strikers were testing the referee's patience after receiving bookings. The Jamaican really upped his game as the match drew on, though, letting his feet do the talking rather than his strength, dragging our defence about and leading the line extremely well.

It's hard to really be too critical of any of our lads, i think the defence was generally solid, which may come across as a touch daft after conceding three goals. We passed the ball better, coped admirably with their direct style, and until the sending off had proved the better side in what, similar to Sunday's draw with Liverpool, was an entertaining game, albeit one with few clear-cut chances.

We can only blame ourselves for not being in the next round. Craig Bellamy had a great chance just after twenty minutes after Emanuel had brilliantly turned his marker on the half-way line, a heavy first touch preventing him from getting a clear shot on goal, and all our possession should have seen us ahead going into the break. The longer the game went on you felt we might get caught, and we did.

I don't think any criticism can be levelled at the manager tonight. He picked the right side and the system worked until we went a man down. As previously mentioned, the defence really didn't play badly at all, though question marks about Shay Given on crosses will perhaps rightly be raised once more. At Stoke you'll always have a storm to weather, and we did so admirably, but the red card did for us.

Fair play to the opposition, however, they sucked up our possession and made the most of their advantage. This tetralogy of games won't be remembered by many, but they've been battles. Both sides took one and shared the spoils twice. They were the better side during the first leg, and in all honesty that was where we blew it. I hope they do go to Stamford Bridge and get something, nobody wants to see Chelsea bore their way to another trophy.

Team:
Given, Richards, Bridge (Santa Cruz '86), Onuoha, Lescott, Kompany, Zabaleta, Barry (Sylvinho '108), Ireland (Wright-Phillips '61), Adebayor, Bellamy