The big European night for Stoke City never really got going at the Britannia, and Tony Pulis will look to stop his side’s losing streak on Sunday.
For supporters of Stoke City, this year was supposed to have promised great things.
However after a 2011 beyond their comprehension, 2012 is turning out to be the hangover from hell.
Even the most ardent Stoke supporter could not have expected to reach last year’s FA Cup Final, and embark on a Europe League run which left them facing Spain’s third best team.
Last night at the Britannia, Valencia lived up to their billing, passing Stoke off the pitch, and keeping a clean sheet.
An acrobatic effort from gangly Peter Crouch which sailed over the bar was about as close as Stoke came to bursting the net, leaving the crowd going home disappointed.
The problem for Stoke leading up to their 1-0 loss last night was that they had not won a league game since January 4.
Not only that but they had not even gained a single point in the league, losing to West Brom, Sunderland, Fulham and Manchester United.
So it was no wonder the players appeared to be lacking the confidence needed which could have secured a famous win at the Potteries last night.
Which means a loss tomorrow to Crawley Town would only be more damaging to the club.
Tony Pulis has criticised the FA’s scheduling of the tie, at 12pm on Sunday, but to be fair he should just be thankful it was not on a Saturday.
It is made harder by the fact Crawley are no normal threadbare League Two outfit.
What they lack in stature they make up for with strong finances, and are a committed team in the form of their manager Steve Evans.
Despite selling top goalscorer Matt Tubbs in January the club have enough to cause Stoke problems, after all it was only last year they nearly claimed a draw at Old Trafford.
Pulis will still believe Stoke have a chance at the Mestalla for the Europa League second leg, and will have one eye on that tie.
If they are to stand a chance, they will need the confidence of coming through a tough game against Crawley, and the manager will have to decide to what element he can afford to rotate his squad.
Stoke need a result, because a defeat leading into a daunting game in Spain will not bode well, and crashing out of two cup competitions in a week, will leave the players picking themselves up off the floor.
The FA Cup was good to them last year, this year they will hope it helps rebuild their season, and not the opposite.
Can Stoke win at Crawley and at Valencia?
image: © Vincent Teeuwen
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