Stoke have endured a very challenging year, with the Potters parting company with two managers and ending 2019 looking like they are going to be in a battle for Championship survival.
The Potters started the year with a 2-0 defeat at home to Bristol City, which ultimately proved to be Gary Rowett’s last league game in charge of the club, and Nathan Jones was appointed his successor and he guided the club to a 16th place finish in the Championship last term.
There was hope that Jones would be able to invest in his squad in the summer and manage to build something to get the Potters off to a strong start to the campaign, but the Potters struggled during the first few months of the season winning just two of their opening 14 games which led to the club sacking Jones.
Michael O’Neill was appointed the club’s third manager of the year, and he has managed to guide the club to three wins from his opening seven league matches to boost hopes of Stoke managing to improve their form and ensure they stay in the Championship this term.
Here then, we take a look at THREE moments that Stoke fans won’t forget from 2019
The home win against Leeds United in January
Stoke were in desperate need of securing a positive result when Leeds traveled to the Bet365 Stadium, with the Potters having lost three of their previous four Championship matches, while their opponents headed into the match looking to extend their lead at the top of the division.
In what was Jones’ first home game in charge of the club Stoke produced one of their best performances under his entire reign, with the Potters producing a battling performance to deny their opponents chances despite them dominating with over 70% possession.
Sam Clucas gave Stoke the lead just four minutes after the break and Jones’ side held onto the lead despite coming under pressure throughout the second period, before Joe Allen doubled their lead two minutes from time – and although Ezgjan Alioski pulled one back deep into injury time it looked as though the Potters had turned a corner with the win.
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The home defeat against Huddersfield
Stoke had endured an awful start to the season having picked up just two points from their opening nine Championship matches, which meant that the Potters were winless in their previous 15 league matches leading to the pressure mounting on Jones heading into the game.
The Potters were looking for a first home win in since a 1-0 success against Blackburn Rovers back at the start of April, and their opponents Huddersfield were themselves enduring a winless start to the campaign following their relegation from the Premier League.
The game summed up Stoke’s problems with Jones once again making changes to his starting line-up in an attempt to find a winning formula, but the Potters were toothless up front failing to register a single shot on target from 18 attempts, while a lapse in concentration late on allowed Huddersfield to snatch a 1-0 win and leave Jones’ side cut adrift at the bottom.
Renewed hope with win at Barnsley
Michael O’Neill’s first game in charge of the Potters saw them travel to fellow strugglers Barnsley, and the Northern Irishman was keen to get started having taken just one training session prior to the game, as he looked to get off to a winning start and lift the mood around the Bet365 Stadium.
The 50-year-old was bold in his team selection changing the Potters’ formation to a 4-3-3, and he managed to get an immediate reaction from his new squad, who had won just two of their opening 15 league games, with a memorable early strike from Sam Clucas and a penalty from Lee Gregory sending them into half time 2-0 up.
The Potters, who had not scored more than twice in a league game in over a year, made the score line more emphatic in the second period, with Allen adding a third before Clucas fired in his second goal of the game – and although Barnsley had pulled one back just after the break and scored a late consolation Stoke fans left the ground full of renewed optimism.