Stoke City secured an emphatic and crucial 3-1 victory over Birmingham at St Andrew’s, marking Steven Schumacher’s first win as the head coach. The win came in Schumacher’s second match in charge and ended a nine-game winless streak for Stoke, providing a positive shift in the team’s atmosphere.
Goals from Jordan Thompson, Lynden Gooch, and Andre Vidigal contributed to the Boxing Day triumph, with the last victory for Stoke dating back to October against Middlesbrough. The winless run, including four consecutive defeats that led to the departure of former head coach Alex Neil, emphasized the urgency for Schumacher to bring about a change in fortunes.
Schumacher acknowledged the pressure and importance of securing a win, stating, “It’s not nice to go nine or 10 games without a win or whatever it was – but now we can look at it on the positive side, and we’re four unbeaten.” Expressing personal satisfaction, he highlighted the significance of getting the first win and maintaining an unbeaten record.
Despite the disappointment of conceding a goal and missing a clean sheet, Schumacher praised the team’s positive application of the game plan, especially in the first half. He emphasized the challenge posed by Birmingham City, acknowledging their quality forward players, but commended the players for executing the plan effectively and securing the much-needed three points.
Having recently arrived from Plymouth Argyle, Schumacher emphasized the importance of positivity and simplicity in his approach. He noted the existing talent in the squad and outlined basic ground rules for behavior and playing style. Despite the limited time with the squad, Schumacher expressed satisfaction with the commitment and effort shown by the players in the last two games, resulting in four valuable points. Looking ahead, he emphasized the need for the commitment to continue for further success.
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