VETERAN GAYLE’S ‘EXCITED’ TO JOIN RAMS BID
GOALS: Dwight Gayle LEAGUE ONE PAUL Warne says new striker Dwight Gayle will be gradually eased into action after three weeks without a club. The 34-year-old – who played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace and Newcastle – was released by Stoke on deadline day. He agreed to join Derby on a short-term deal on Monday but, with the club still operating under the terms of an EFL business plan due to recent financial problems, extra scrutiny meant he was not permitted to sign until Thursday. “Dwight’s ready to play,” said Warne, whose side ar…
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Stoke City have to find a way to find form in this calamitous season – Pete Smith’s talking points
Reaction as Stoke City fall into the relegation zone after defeat to Cardifn f ithe Championship
A 1-0 win at Rotherham in January had put Stoke closer to the top six than the bottom three but results since then – six defeats in seven – have made this fall below the line go from unlikely to likely to inevitable. It is kick in the stomach at any point after the opening month to be this low in the league table and it is beyond worrying to be in there at this stage.
There is still time to put it right. Results, particularly their own, did not go their way this weekend but the target remains the same, they just have fewer games to get there. Somehow or other they need to stutter and stumble, swindle or steal their way to something like 48 points. Maybe even that won’t be enough.
Somehow Stoke have to find a way to find form in this calamitous season, find a way of winning something like four out of final 12 matches when they have only won three of the last 20, as goals have dried up at one end and been given away so cheaply at the other.
Dig out your lucky pants, socks and scarves, pray to the football gods and hope that maybe, possibly, even the team can chip in with something too that can justify the money spent on them, the hope and time invested and find a way not to lose.
