2001–02 Stoke City F.C. season

The 2001–02 season was Stoke City's 95th season in the Football League and the eighth in the third tier.

Stoke City
2001–02 season
ChairmanGunnar Gíslason
ManagerGudjon Thordarson
StadiumBritannia Stadium
Football League Second Division5th (80 Points)
FA CupThird Round
League CupFirst Round
League TrophyFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Chris Iwelumo (10)
All: Chris Iwelumo (12)
Highest home attendance23,019 vs Port Vale (10 February 2002)
Lowest home attendance9,515 vs Colchester United (26 September 2001)
Average home league attendance13,996

After two failed attempts to gain promotion via the play-offs the pressure was now on Gudjon Thordarson to achieve automatic promotion. Graham Kavanagh was sold for £1 million as well as fan favourite Peter Thorne to Cardiff City and with the money raised Stoke went out and brought some useful additions. After a slow start City went on a 10 match unbeaten run which was brought to a halt by Wigan in November. In January Stoke lost their form and fell away from automatic promotion places and it became clear that it would be the play-offs again for Stoke. And it was Cardiff who were Stoke's opponents with the first leg ending in a 2–1 win for the "Bluebirds" and it seemed that in the second leg Cardiff would hold on for a goalless draw but two very late goals gave Stoke a famous victory and they went to secure promotion by beating Brentford 2–0 in the final. It was not enough however for Gudjon Thordarson to be offered a new contract.[1]

Season review

League

The pressure was now on manager Gudjon Thordarson to finally end Stoke's spell in the Second Division with the owners wanting the club to start progressing through to the Premiership.[1] First task Gudjon did was to sell key midfielder Graham Kavanagh to big spending Cardiff City for £1 million and with that money he brought in six new players, defender Peter Handyside from Grimsby Town who was made captain, goalkeeper Neil Cutler, Belarusian defender Sergei Shtanyuk, Belgian midfielder Jurgen Vandeurzen, David Rowson from Aberdeen and most impressively former Dutch international Peter Hoekstra.[1] The season didn't get off the best of starts with Stoke losing 1–0 away at Queens Park Rangers but two wins over Northampton and Cambridge kick started Stoke's season.[1] Stoke then drew 1–1 at home to Huddersfield Town with Peter Thorne scoring a 90th-minute equaliser, it proved to be his last act in a Stoke shirt as he left to join Kavanagh at Cardiff.[1] With Stoke's main goal threat sold supporters questioned where the goals would come from, thankfully for Stoke they would be spread across the side.

After the departure of Thorne Stoke went on a fine run of results going 10 matches unbeaten putting them firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion but the run was ended by a thumping 6–1 defeat at Wigan Athletic.[1] Stoke recovered well beating Wycombe Wanderers 5–1 but just three wins in 14 saw Stoke's grip on the top two loosen.[1] Matters were not helped when Souleymane Oularé brought into replace Thorne suffered a life-threatening blood clot after just one appearance.[1] With automatic promotion looking unlikely due to the form of Brighton & Hove Albion and Reading, Stoke concentrated on cementing their position in the play-offs and that's what they managed finishing the season in 5th position.[1]

Their opponents in the play-offs were Cardiff City and the first leg at the Britannia Stadium didn't go well for Stoke with Leo Fortune-West and Robert Earnshaw putting Cardiff 2–0 up, but on loan striker Deon Burton pulled one back for Stoke late on.[1] So Stoke went into the second leg at the notoriously hostile Ninian Park 2–1 down and with both sides missing chances the match was 0–0 after 90 minutes and in the final minute of injury time James O'Connor scored to send the match into extra time.[1] And Stoke scored again via an O'Connor shot which deflected in of Souleymane Oularé to give Stoke the most dramatic victory.[1] The final against Brentford was not as dramatic as Stoke won comfortably 2–0 thanks to goals from Deon Burton and an own goal from Ben Burgess.[1] So with Stoke celebrating a return to the second tier after a longer than hoped spell in the third tier the feeling around the club was good with hopes that it could be the start of a return to the top flight.[1] However, despite finally achieving promotion via the play-offs at the third attempt manager Gudjon Thordarson's contract was not renewed.[2]

FA Cup

After avoiding potential upsets against non-league Lewes and Third Division Halifax Town Stoke were handed a third round tie against Everton. The "Toffees" won a close match 1–0 thanks to an Alan Stubbs free-kick in front of a capacity crowd of 28,218.[1]

League Cup

Stoke lost to Oldham Athletic in the first round via a penalty shoot-out.[1]

League Trophy

With priorities on gaining promotion Gudjon decided to play a second string side against Blackpool giving debuts to some of the club's best academy players most notably Andy Wilkinson. They gave a decent account of themselves losing 3–2.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
3 Brentford 46 24 11 11 77 43 +34 83 Participated in play-offs
4 Cardiff City 46 23 14 9 75 50 +25 83
5 Stoke City (O, P) 46 23 11 12 67 40 +27 80
6 Huddersfield Town 46 21 15 10 65 47 +18 78
7 Bristol City 46 21 10 15 68 53 +15 73
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.

Results

Stoke's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Pre-Season friendlies

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultScorers
115 July 2001Newcastle TownA3–0Thorne 10' Cooke 39' Bullock 72'
218 July 2001Macclesfield TownA1–0Guðjónsson 44'
321 July 2001Wacker BurghausenA3–1Guðjónsson, Hoekstra, Gunnarsson
424 July 2001FC GratkornA0–0
524 July 2001GençlerbirliğiA0–1
627 July 2001SV GmundenA3–0Þórðarson, Iwelumo, Cooke
731 July 2001Leicester CityH1–2Cooke
84 August 2001Derby CountyH0–0
97 August 2001Racing Club WarwickA4–2Neal, Goodfellow, Iwelumo (2)

Football League Second Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersReport
111 August 2001Queens Park RangersA0–114,357Report
218 August 2001Northampton TownH2–012,845Cooke 52', Thorne 54'Report
325 August 2001Cambridge UnitedA2–03,336Thorne 48', Cooke 51'Report
427 August 2001Tranmere RoversH1–212,031Thorne (pen) 90'Report
58 September 2001Huddersfield TownH1–113,319Thorne 90'Report
615 September 2001ReadingH2–011,752Guðjónsson 25', Cooke 30'Report
718 September 2001Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–16,627Report
822 September 2001BuryA1–04,727Vandeurzen 32'Report
926 September 2001Colchester UnitedH3–09,515Vandeurzen 45', Þórðarson (2) 57', 90'Report
1029 September 2001BournemouthH2–014,803Maher (o.g.) 11', Thomas 47'Report
1113 October 2001Notts CountyH1–013,220Hoekstra 47' (pen)Report
1221 October 2001Port ValeA1–110,344Iwelumo 78'Report
1323 October 2001ChesterfieldA2–15,141Hoekstra (2) 67', 90' (1 pen)Report
1427 October 2001Bristol CityH1–016,828Gunnarsson 88'Report
153 November 2001Swindon TownA3–07,981Gunnarsson 28', Iwelumo 65', O'Connor 86'Report
166 November 2001BlackpoolA2–24,921Iwelumo (2) 63', 64'Report
1710 November 2001BrentfordH3–217,953Gunnarsson 32' Iwelumo 49', Shtanyuk 80'Report
1813 November 2001Wigan AthleticA1–67,047Vandeurzen 9'Report
1921 November 2001Oldham AthleticH0–011,031Report
2024 November 2001WrexhamA1–05,477Cooke 67'Report
2115 December 2001Wycombe WanderersH5–112,911Gunnarsson (2) 19', 44', Iwelumo 30', Cooke 58', Goodfellow 85'Report
2219 December 2001Cardiff CityH1–114,331Gabbidon 81' (o.g.)Report
2326 December 2001Tranmere RoversA2–212,201Cooke 19', Daðason 90' (pen)Report
2429 December 2001Huddersfield TownA0–016,041Report
251 January 2002BlackpoolH2–016,615Shtanyuk 13', O'Connor 82'Report
2613 January 2002Northampton TownA1–15,635Goodfellow 36'Report
2719 January 2002Queens Park RangersH0–116,725Report
2822 January 2002Cardiff CityA0–211,771Report
2926 January 2002Wigan AthleticH2–213,361Goodfellow 37', Daðason 67' (pen)Report
3029 January 2002Peterborough UnitedA2–15,173Daðason 21', Goodfellow 90'Report
312 February 2002BournemouthA1–36,027Daðason 63' (pen)Report
326 February 2002Cambridge UnitedH5–09,570Cooke 22', O'Connor 27', Þórðarson 61', Tann 71' (o.g.), Goodfellow 89'Report
3310 February 2002Port ValeH0–123,019Report
3416 February 2002Notts CountyA0–07,501Report
3523 February 2002ReadingA0–121,023Report
3626 February 2002BuryH4–09,635Iwelumo (2) 45', 56', Vandeurzen 73', Þórðarson 84'Report
371 March 2002Brighton & Hove AlbionH3–116,092Iwelumo 29', Gunnlaugsson 58' (pen), Clarke 86'Report
385 March 2002Colchester UnitedA3–13,866Guðjónsson 42', Burton (2) 45', 80'Report
399 March 2002Wycombe WanderersA0–17,344Report
4016 March 2002Peterborough UnitedH1–012,983Gunnlaugsson 10'Report
4123 March 2002ChesterfieldH1–014,841Gunnlaugsson 23'Report
4230 March 2002BrentfordA0–18,837Report
431 April 2002Swindon TownH2–013,530Thomas 60', Iwelumo 68'Report
446 April 2002Oldham AthleticA1–26,548Holden 63' (o.g.)Report
4513 April 2002WrexhamH1–014,298Cooke 30'Report
4620 April 2002Bristol CityA1–111,277Cooke 16'Report

Second Division play-offs

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersReport
Semi-final 1st Leg28 April 2002Cardiff CityH1–221,245Burton 85'Report
Semi-final 2nd Leg1 May 2002Cardiff CityA2–0 (aet)19,367O'Connor 90+3', Oularé 114'Report
Final11 May 2002BrentfordN2–042,523Burton 10', Burgess 44' (o.g.)Report

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersReport
R118 November 2001LewesH2–07,081Handyside 19', Gunnarsson 57'Report
R28 December 2001Halifax TownA1–13,335Cooke 27'Report
R2 Replay11 December 2001Halifax TownH3–04,356Guðjónsson 22', Iwelumo 27', Gunnarsson 47'Report
R35 January 2002EvertonH0–128,218Report

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersReport
R122 August 2001Oldham AthleticH0–0 (5–6 pens)5,635Report

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorersReport
R116 October 2001BlackpoolA2–33,561Iwelumo 72', Neal 83' (pen)Report

Squad statistics

No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Play-offs Total Discipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Gavin Ward 1001000100012010
2DF Mikael Hansson 00000000000000
3DF Clive Clarke 42(1)1300(1)0103049(2)180
4DF Peter Handyside 3403110003041121
5DF Sergei Shtanyuk 40240100030482152
6MF Brynjar Gunnarsson 21(2)53200100025(2)740
7MF Bjarni Guðjónsson 4634110003054470
8FW Andy Cooke 26(9)92(2)10(1)0002(1)030(13)1090
9FW Peter Thorne 54000000005400
9FW Souleymane Oularé 0(1)00000000(1)10(2)100
10FW Ríkharður Daðason 6(5)40(2)000000(1)06(8)400
11MF Peter Hoekstra 20(4)32(1)010000023(5)310
12DF Wayne Thomas 40230101030482171
14GK Neil Cutler 3603010003043010
15FW Chris Iwelumo 22(16)103(1)10(1)0113029(18)1200
16FW Stefán Þórðarson 3(18)4001000004(18)420
17MF James O'Connor 4324000003150370
18MF Lewis Neal 6(5)01(1)00011008(6)100
19FW Marc Goodfellow 11(12)51(2)010101015(14)510
20DF David Rowson 8(5)01(2)010100011(7)020
21MF Pétur Marteinsson 2(1)0000000002(1)010
22MF Arnar Gunnlaugsson 930000002011301
23MF Karl Henry 9(15)02010100013(15)020
24MF Kris Commons 00000010001000
25DF Gareth Owen 00000000000000
26FW Ole Albrigtsen 00000000000000
27MF Jurgen Vandeurzen 37(3)44010000(3)042(6)480
27MF Brian Wilson 0(1)0000010001(1)000
28DF Andy Wilkinson 0000000(1)0000(1)000
29GK Birkir Kristinsson 00000000000000
29MF Tony Dinning 50000000308000
30GK Scott Bevan 00000000000000
31GK Boaz Myhill 00000000000000
31FW Laurence Hall 0000000(1)0000(1)000
32FW Allan Smart 0(2)0000000000(2)001
32GK Danny Alcock 00000000000000
33GK Michael Ingham 00000000000000
33GK Jani Viander 00000000000000
34DF Mike Flynn 11(2)00000000011(2)020
35FW Deon Burton 11(1)20000002(1)213(2)410
36DF Ian Brightwell 3(1)00000000(1)03(2)010
38MF John Miles 0(1)0000000000(1)000
Own goals 400015

References

  1. "Stoke City season review 2001-02 third time lucky for Stoke". The Sentinel. 31 May 2002.
  2. "Stoke sack Thordarson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
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