Source: Telegraph
Rory Delap throws Stoke City lifeline
Just when it seemed Boro's more thoughtful football might have fashioned a winner, Delap's hand grenade proved destructive and decisive. Ryan Shawcross met his teammate's long throw and a glanced header secured victory for Stoke. [LNB]The purists will argue it was a travesty of justice, but Stoke operate to their limited strengths and a home win reinforces the belief in these parts that they have a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League action[LNB]Latest standings and statistics[LNB]Gareth Southgate admits Boro?s patience may wear thin[LNB]Paul Sturrock full of praise for Plymouth[LNB]Premier League round-up: Arsenal find form as West Ham ease pressure on Curbishley[LNB]Round-up: Tottenham's losing run continues[LNB]This win lifts them above Boro, who were left wondering how and why. The longer the match meandered from its erratic beginnings, the more Stewart Downing and Tuncay influenced its course. [LNB]Downing, playing in central midfield, and Tuncay, probing around the penalty area, combined with intelligence and promise. But good intent counts for nothing without the end product and Stoke, sticking to the tried and trusted, floundered the points in trademark manner six minutes from time. [LNB]Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, said: "That's the first time for a long time that the long throw has brought us a goal. It's a great weapon. Every win in the Premier League is big. The support was tremendous and I've never heard it that loud. It was almost like a family outing - unique." [LNB]Yet again, Boro had very little to should about. They had mustered just one win in 18 league matches and their manager, Gareth Southgate, acknowledges the scale of the task now confronting them. [LNB]Southgate said: "We trained for the long throw and dealt with it for the majority of the game but then lost our concentration. We've got eight games to save ourselves and we have to believe we can. We are going to be criticised and it's irrelevant how I am. It's about keeping this club in the division." [LNB]They fumbled their way through much of the afternoon although Boro's goalkeeper, Brad Jones, had to move smartly to defy James Beattie. Thomas Sorensen, in the Stoke goal, was equally agile to turn away an effort from the increasingly menacing Tuncay. [LNB]Liam Lawrence raised Stoke's optimism serving up opportunities for Shawcross and Beattie, but both were wasted. [LNB]Boro doubtless sensed their creativity might tilt the contest their way in the later stages, but fatally they switched off as Delap's missile came in and central defender Shawcross applied the crucial finish. [LNB]Pulis added: "It's going to be that sort of a match for the rest of the season. We're at the business end and all the games are going to be tense and tight. I told the players we're going to need that resilience and hard graft. We have to make up for our lack of quality with hard work and effort." [LNB]
