Stoke City 0 West Brom 0

Last updated : 31 July 2002 By Rob Stanway
Both managers of tonights friendly fixture got a great reception, firstly Gary Megson came out and to great applause and then the number one man - Steve Cotterill for his first game at The Britannia Stadium.

Neither team played a blinder - not many efforts on goal throughout the game but some good points Stoke can take away from the game. The runout tonight showed Cotterill's men the sort of football teams they're up against - not particuarly skillfull but good passers of the ball and solid.

Stoke started with what seemed to be our squad last season but less strong. Gunnarson (Sub), Oulare, Clarke, VanDoerzen were non starters - not to mension those who had not been signed Gunnlaugson and Burton.

Gunnarson did come on in the 72nd minute and to great effect - instantly bursting forward sending the team forward earning a corner in a period of potters pressure.

Megson's boys started off with one or two goalbound chances, when they did break through - Cutler proved why he had been kept on as Stoke City's #1.

New signing Chris Greenacre had to be stretchered off after only 15 minutes when getting a shot in from 10 yards, fortunatly he has only twisted his ancle and could well be back in time for this saturday's game vs Birmingham.

Noticable good performances came from Wayne Thomas and also the youngsters Karl Henry and Marc Goodfellow did well. Bjarni Gudjonson had a good game, the defence looked solid and we've still got more to see from Greenacre. Gunnarson also looked sharp when he did come onto the pitch.