Paul Lambert hits the ground running as Joe Allen and Mame Biram Diouf fire Stoke to victory against Huddersfield
Stoke City 2 Huddersfield Town 0: Lambert struck an animated and frantic figure on the sidelines as his tenure as manager got off to a bang
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Your support makes all the difference.Paul Lambert answered the largely underwhelming response to his appointment as Stoke City manager with victory over Huddersfield Town in his first Premier League match in charge - and how he savoured the moment.
Victory was secured thanks to second-half goals from Joe Allen and Mame Diouf as Lambert showed just how much he has longed to be back on centre stage in the top flight.
Lambert filled much of his time out of management sedately pounding the pedals on his bicycle but has clearly missed the high-octane headrush of the Premier League.
The Potters had become a BMX under Lambert’s predecessor Mark Hughes at the Bet365 Stadium - versatile with the tricks which caught admiring glances, but highly impractical for the hard slog of a Premier League season.
This was an occasion Lambert relished; sleeves rolled up to his elbows and collar turned up, the Scot was given a warm welcome before an animated display in the technical area.
His breath visible on a cold day in the Potteries as he frantically gesticulated, shouted instructions, argued with the fourth official and kicked every ball that came his way.
Passion and motivation has always been the Glaswegian’s strongest managerial quality and his players responded here.
On the pitch, Stoke showed intensity and purpose about their play – although in truth they had done so under Hughes, even in the fag end of the Welshman’s tenure.
Nevertheless it was results that matter and Lambert has succeeded initially where Hughes had struggled; in plugging Stoke’s leaky defence.
Before this encounter Stoke had more goals than any other club in Europe's top five leagues with 50 goals conceded. Worryingly, five of the previous six sides to concede that at this stage of the season were relegated.
But against one of the sides they needed to beat if they are to have any hope of survival they kept only their third clean sheet of the season. When margins are fine, that counts.
A long-range volleyed effort from midfielder Charlie Adam was all Stoke had to show for their endeavours in a scrappy first half hour.
The Terriers gradually grew in confidence and Steve Mounie’s snap shot flashed past the post. However, the best chance of first half fell to Stoke.
A long punt upfield from Potters goalkeeper Jack Butland was adroitly lifted over the top of the Huddersfield defence by Maxim Choupo-Moting and Xherdan Shaqiri scampered clear.
The Switzerland international hesitated before he tried to finish by which time Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl had narrowed the angle to save.
Shortly after the interval the hosts had the ball in the net when Shaqiri’s miscued acrobatic effort bounced in, only for the assistant to raise his flag.
It was a sign of intent from Stoke and they followed it up with the opening goal of the contest.
Adam cleverly released the Choupo-Moting down the left and the Cameroonian teased a ball into the penalty area which bypassed the run of Mame Diouf and found Allen.
The midfielder’s finish was well placed at the near post but seemed to lack power, only to find a way past Scott Malone, who was stationed on the post only to lose his footing at the crucial moment.
Malone cursed with frustration, Lambert celebrated as wildly as even the most partisan Stoke fan.
The 48-year-old was jumping around again in the 70th minute when Choupo-Moting intercepted Aaron Mooy’s crossfield pass and slid the ball into the feet of Shaqiri.
The Stoke playmaker cleverly backheeled the ball into Diouf, who struck a powerful low effort which rebounded off both posts before settling into the net.
Lambert hugged all his players at the full-time whistle before he defiantly applauded the home fans. There is a long way to go in the season but this was a step in the right direction.
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