News and reaction as Stoke City come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Bristol City

Stoke City finally and dramatically got back to winning ways as they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Bristol City. Here are the talking points from Ashton Gate

Nathan Lowe, who has been with Stoke since the under-10s, couldn’t have enjoyed the moment more after coming on to score the winner here. A first senior goal must be brilliant whenever it happens but to get one at such a vital moment, potentially for the season, was thrilling and it was no wonder he was mobbed by his teammates and serenaded by supporters.

He had only turned 18 a couple of weeks ago, he had to come off for the under-21s on Monday night because he was ill, he made an eye-catching cameo in the cup at Bournemouth on Wednesday and here he was: adored.

Alex Neil said: “He’s merited coming on the pitch because he’s played really well in the 21s when I’ve seen him, he played really well the other day when he came on and then he’s merited his time on the pitch today and there is nothing nicer than you put on one of the kids and they get the goal, particularly Lowey. He loves the club. He’s a fan, he lives in Stoke. You don’t get a better feeling than that.

“We’ve put Lowey on, Junior (Tchamadeu) on, (Bae) Junho on. That isn’t vast experience at this level. In fact it’s no experience at that level. So you understand they’re going to make mistakes, you understand that they’re going to be in areas at times that they probably shouldn’t be, they’re not going to read situations as quickly as maybe senior players.

“But you’re hoping there’s a youth, vibrancy and determination to see them through, as it did today.”

Coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 away

There is no doubt this has potential to be a big turning point, a bit like that Boxing Day win over Sheffield Wednesday in 2019 when there were chants against everyone as Stoke were heading towards another defeat – and impending relegation – but instead they went and won.

It is rare indeed to come back from two down, rarer to come back from two-down away from home. This is the first time Stoke have done it in the league since winning 3-2 at Wigan at the old Springfield Park under Brian Little back in March 1999. They also came back from 2-0 down inside the first half hour to win 3-2 at Halifax in the LDV Vans Trophy under Gudjon Thordarson in January 2001.

Injuries strike again

So Wouter Burger came back from hamstring injury, as a sub, but there was no Andre Vidigal and both Lynden Gooch (another hamstring) limped off and Michael Rose had to be helped off in the closing stages too.

It meant a call-up for Lowe and Tchamadeu being tasked with playing the second half at left-back.

Neil said: “Lynden Gooch was struggling with his hamstring so Junior came on for one of his first games at this level. You can see at the moment, I mentioned it the other day, that I think we’re the fifth youngest squad in the league and Bristol City will be really interesting because they’ve been a squad for the last two seasons that have really promoted their youth.

“I think they’re starting to benefit from that and got some good players coming through and boys like Cam Pring have come through their youth academy, the goalkeeper Max O’Leary. There’s quite a few of them that have all started to come through.

“And we’ve got a young group but they need time. A lot of them need time particularly because they’re coming from overseas too. Junho, for the last goal, had that little bit of quality, used his body really well put it across, Lowey gets the winner, which is a moment he’ll remember for the rest of his life, which is great. Even Wouter he comes on, he’s only 22, young (Luke) McNally as well.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really enjoy any part of that game. I think we’ve played miles better than that in probably every game this season apart from against Hull. But I think that shows the crazy nature of football and the Championship in particular.”

Returns unlikely for Southampton clash

Gooch and Rose are being assessed but Neil didn’t sound hopeful on the injury front.

He said: “Andre’s just not ready. He’s tried to train and he’s having to take three steps to turn his body.

“We’ve got Andre missing, Enda Stevens missing, Ryan Mmaee missing and Tyrerse Campbell missing. Ange (Smith) was telling me the other day how great our front line is and there’s three out of the four. I think people need to take that into account.

“I understand when you’re a fan, you don’t care which is fine, but it’s not easy when you’re coming down and asking teenagers to in you games. That’s tough.”

Asked if any would be fit for Southampton on Tuesday, the manager said: “I doubt it.”