Pundit’s ‘very good timing’ Stoke City verdict says it all
Stoke City have their fate in their own hands heading into the final four games of the season
“Very, very good timing” has allowed Stoke City to achieve their finest form of the season, according to Championship analyst Ali Maxwell.
Wins over Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff, together with draws with Preston and Luton, have given Stoke 11 points from their past six games. As the season approaches its last four games, this streak has contributed to creating a five-point buffer between the team and the relegation zone.
After only drawing with Luton in the middle of last week, Stoke was furious, but they turned that disappointment into what was likely their most significant campaign outcome in South Wales. The fact is that the more reliable performances over the last six games have been crucial, even if two points were lost last Tuesday.
The “very, very good timing” of that tells it all: they are in control of their destiny whereas Cardiff, who are in third place, are in a panic.
On this week’s Not The Top 20 edition, Maxwell stated: “This was a good response after Stoke had given up in injury time against Luton at home when they were 1-0 ahead to tie the game. In fact, they have accumulated 11 points from six games and won three of those games. From their perspective, it’s extremely good timing, as it puts them five points clear of the relegation zone with three clubs between them.
“For Cardiff, that mini league is not looking good. They beat Derby on January 25 but since then they have lost to Portsmouth, drew with Argyle, beat Hull but lost to Luton and lost to Stoke. That is problematic.
Cardiff’s next big home match is against Oxford on Monday, after they visit Sheffield United on Friday.
“For Cardiff, it’s pretty desperate times for their survival hopes,” co-host George Elek stated. It is understandable for the fan base to be curious about the source of the upcoming points. They will visit Oxford on Easter Monday, which is a big game that Cardiff supporters will undoubtedly mark as their best chance to win a football match right up until the conclusion of the season.
“But they go to Sheffield United on Friday and I’m sure that’s one that a couple of weeks ago Cardiff fans would have had no hope for – but having seen three sides, two of which are very much in this relegation battle -beat Sheffield United in the last week or so there is no reason that they should rule that one out as being an opportunity to pick up points.
“They are winless in their last four now. A 2-1 win over Blackburn back at the end of March looked like it was going to be so important for them but there have been three draws off the back of that followed by this ominous defeat to Stoke. This was a game you just had to make sure you don’t lose against a side you can overtake with a win and it came down to two moments where a chance is missed and then a bad break against them so they came away with nothing.”
