BURNLEY 1 (Nugent 52)
STOKE CITY 1 (Tuncay 23)
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox (Jordan 76); Eagles, Cork (McDonald 46), Alexander, Paterson; Nugent, Thompson (Elliott 71). Subs: Weaver, Blake, Bikey, Duff.
CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, A.D. Faye (C), Collins; Lawrence (Pugh 63), Delap, Whitehead, Etherington; Sidibe (Kitson 63), Tuncay (Moult 85). Begovic, A. Faye, Davies, Lund.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee - Howard Webb | Assistants - J Flynn & R Lewis | Fourth Officials - C Foy
MINUTE-TO-MINUTE
7.30pm: Welcome to stokecityfc.com for live minute-to-minute coverage of tonight's game here at a freezing cold Turf Moor.
7.40pm: Well Tony Pulis has made two changes to his starting eleven this evening and both of them because of injuries. Leading goal-scorer Ricardo Fuller misses out with a back injury, whilst Glenn Whelan has failed to recover from a leg injury he sustained against Chelsea at the weekend. The good news is that Matthew Etherington has been declared fit to make his first start since picking up a knee injury against Manchester City in the FA Cup. He starts on the left with Liam Lawrence returning to occupy the flank on the right.
7.42pm: Brian Laws has handed starts to both Martin Paterson and Leon Cort as he looks to avoid what would be a fifth successive league defeat. Victory for the Potters would be a third on the road this term and would take us closer to the magic '40-point' mark.
7.43pm: Before I forget, there has been a change to the official for this evening's fixture. Lee Probert has been replaced by Howard Webb! Let's hope a few of his decisions go the way of the Potters tonight. The excitement is building up here as both sets of supporters begin to really make themselves heard. You really get the feeling that tonight is a must win for the hosts. Everyone around us here, at the top of the stand, are describing the game as 'huge'. Let's hope we can compund a little more misery upon them.
7.45pm: The two teams enter the field after a superb minutes applause for former Claret Adam Blakeman. Both sets of supporters were impeccable in remembering an all time Burnley great, as well as former Macclesfield Town boss Keith Alexander.
19:49pm: Slightly behind schedule the hosts get the proceedings underway. Come on Stoke!
3 mins: Rory Delap's first long throw-in of the evening is diverted behind for a corner by former Potter Leon Cort. Liam Lawrence curls it in and Abdoulaye Faye flicks it just wide of the right hand post.
4 mins: A nice piece of trickery on the left from Etherington results in Tuncay winning a free-kick in a good position for the visitors. A good start from Stoke.
5 mins: Etherington's ball into the box is dangerous, however, before the ball lands in the danger zone, Howard Webb has already blown up for an apparent infringement.
7 mins: It has been all Stoke so far. Etherington in particular is causing problems for the Burnley full back.
9 mins: The hosts have a free-kick of their own right by the corner flag after Etherington tripped Tyrone Mears to give him a taste of his own medicine. Chris Eagles' ball into the box comes to nothing though as Robert Huth clears the ball from danger.
11 mins: It's certainly a big game for the locals as they seem to be getting pretty restless already. More of the same from Stoke will do.
14 mins: Skipper Faye needlessly barges down Eagles just outside the penalty area, gifting the hosts a good opportunity from a set-piece. Again though Huth is a rock and clears the ball miles away. Good work from the giant German there.
16 mins: Oustanding tracking back from Delap ensures the Potters remain on level terms. Dave Nugent squared the ball to Steven Thompson, but just as he readies himself to shoot Delap nipped in to clear the ball.
17 mins: The hosts are getting on top now with Nugent testing Sorensen, whilst Paterson fires across a dangerous ball which Danny Collins does well to head away from trouble.
20 mins: The hosts are really asserting themselves on the game right now, but Stoke's backline is, as ever, standing firm to soak up the pressure.
22 mins: Delap tricks everyone by throwing the ball short to Collins; and he whips in a ball which Huth meets, but guides it just wide.
23 mins: Yesss!!! Delap's long throw-in is flicked on at the near post by Sidibe and Tuncay steams in to power the ball into the back of the net from 5-yards.
25 mins: ASt the other end Mears does well to burst down the flank but his cross is horrendous as it fly's over everyone and behind for a goal-kick.
27 mins: Another Sidibe flick on is latched onto by Tuncay, but he can only fire wide of the goal. A good effort from the Turkey skipper though from an acute angle.
30 mins: Delap's missiles are causing all sorts of problems for the hosts. The supporters sitting around us don't seem to impressed neither. We look superb so far. Back to back corners come to nothing though as Carlisle clears the ball both times.
33 mins: Great defending from Wilkinson as he uses his pace and stregth to nick the ball off Eagles.
35 mins: Our midfield are really bossing the game and not giving their Burnley counterparts a minutes piece. Some outstanding football from Stoke culminates to nothing, as Lawrence misplaces the ball behind for a goal kick.
38 mins: The hosts best chance of the half falls to Paterson, but after arriving perfectly to meet Eagles surging ball into the box, the former Stoke striker fails to connect properly and the ball trickles into the hands of Sorensen. A lucky escape for Stoke.
40 mins: The supporters are furious as Grham Alexander slices the ball horribly adrift of Mears, who was crying out for the ball on the right byline. City's supporters respond with chants of 'Premier League you're having a laugh'.
43 mins: So close to a second goal for the Potters as Etherington drives the ball across the 6-yard box only to see Cort lunge in and clear the ball away from Sidibe who looked ready to tap home.
45 mins: The fourth official has indicated a minimum of one minute added time.
45 + 1 mins: The first half is brought to a halt by Webb. Home supporters boo and jeer whilst the Potters travelling army of fans give their players a standing ovation. Well earned too.
H/T: Well what a superb half for the Potters, who were by far the better side. Let's hope things continue during the second period, though I'd imagine the hosts will offer a little bit more after what will surely be a serious half time team-talk in the home dressing room. There is currently an amazing half time game taking place on the pitch called 'Pie and Chips'. Several supporters are gathered at the corner attempting to chip 'pea' like footballs into a giant pie to win a signed shirt. Pure genius... only at Burnley! There is one lad in particular who looks pretty decent at this game. Maybe he could don a claret and blue shirt for the second half?
20.51pm: Both sets of players return to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Buyrnley have decided to change things around as Brian Laws brings on Kevin McDonald at the expense of Jack Cork.
20.52pm: We are back underway as Whitehead and Tuncay kick us off.
47 mins: A great ball from Whitehead finds Sidibe down the channel, but his ball into the box is rushed and he fires it beyond the fast approaching Tuncay. A waste of a decent opportunity.
48 mins: The hosts press forward now with Paterson and Nugent linking up well. The Potters clear their lines again though. Carlisle is the first player to be cautioned for lunging in on Whitehead.
49 mins: Sorensne comfortably gathers Eagles 40-yard strike. Maybe that was a little to ambitiuous from the former Manchester United man.
50 mins: Tony Pulis has been ordered to don a white bib as the fourth official is confusing him with the City players.
52 mins: Game on now as Nugent rises highest to guide home Eagles' delightful ball into the penalty area.
55 mins: Corty does well to block off Tuncay and then clear the ball awat from the Turkish striker.
56 mins: A sublime ball into the box from Paterson is half cleared by Sorensen, before Wilkinson steams in to sweep up from Paterson.
60 mins: Lawrence's in-swinging corner evades everyone apart from Faye, but he cant keep the ball low enough as he fires over the bar.
63 mins: David Kitson and Danny Pugh come on for Lawrence and Sidibe as Pulis switches things around.
66 mins: Etherington bursts down the flank but Eagles does well to stand him up and force him to cross the ball out of play.
70 mins: Tuncay's graft pays dividends as he wins the ball off of Mears and fires across goal. Sadly no-one was on hand to fire the ball home.
71 mins: Steven Thompson is replaced by Wade Elliott.
73 mins: Thgings have turned a little scrappy at the moment, with neither side able to get a foothold of the game. Just as I say that Alexander drives an effort just wide from range.
76 mins: Elliott's corner is glanced back across goal by Carlisle, but Faye clears the danger with Paterson ready to pounce.
76 mins: Daniel Fox is replaced by former Manchester City man Stephen Jordan.
79 mins: Academy striker Louis Moult is warming up on the touchline. Could he be about to become City's youngest ever Premier League player?
80 mins: Kitson fires a powerful effort goalwards, only fopr Jensen to save well.
85 mins: I was right... On he comes for his top flight debut, with Tuncay making way.
88 mins: McDonald is booked for bringing down Delap. City's supporters are making themselves heard.
88 mins: Pugh wins the Potters a free-kick right outside the penalty area. Come on Stoke! It comes to nothing. Dissapointing.
90 mins: At the other end a classic counter attack results in Eagles receiving the ball in space, but he fires well voer from 15-yards.
90 mins: Three minutes off added time are indicated as McDonald flashes an effort inches wide for the hosts.
93 mins: Paterson wastes an opportunbity by drilling the ball straight at Sorensen with at least three Claret players inside the penalty area. Straight at the other end Etherington curls an effort over the bar. Surely that is it!
94 mins: Yes it is! Full-time here. Burnley 1 Stoke City 1.
