Stoke City vs Cardiff City. Sky Bet Championship.
Bet365 Stadium.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Stoke City and Cardiff City at the bet365 Stadium on a busy night for Sean Morrison as he scored an own goal and gave away a penalty, before scoring the Bluebirds winner
Tuesday 8 December 2020 23:29, UK
Stoke paid a heavy price for Sam Vokes' missed penalty during a 2-1 defeat at home to Cardiff.
The hosts led 1-0 at the break in Tuesday night's Sky Bet Championship clash following an own goal by Bluebirds captain Sean Morrison.
But they failed to build on that lead, with James Chester rattling the crossbar from a 50th-minute corner.
Vokes then missed a golden chance to put Stoke firmly in control when his penalty was saved by Alex Smithies nine minutes later.
It proved to be a pivotal turning point with Robert Glatzel levelling following a smart finish.
And the Welsh side hit the front when Morrison made amends by heading home the winner from a Joe Ralls corner with 14 minutes to go.
A win would have moved Stoke level with second-placed Norwich in the Championship.
Joe Bursik came 30 yards off his line to beat Kieffer Moore to a long ball over the top after five minutes as Cardiff enjoyed a good start.
Tyrese Campbell curled the ball wide from the edge of the box after Joe Bennett gave away possession cheaply.
Campbell had shouts for a penalty waved away after he went down under a sliding challenge from Morrison.
Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson drilled a powerful effort just over from distance in the 21st minute.
Morrison turned a low Campbell cross into his own net from a yard out to give Stoke a 25th-minute lead.
It signalled a lull in action with the visitors unable to find much of a response against a hardworking and well-organised Stoke side.
Campbell went down inside the box following a collision with Bennett after 37 minutes.
Wilson wasted a good headed chance at the angle of the six-yard box after Sheyi Ojo teed him up four minutes later.
Chester thundered a header against the crossbar from James McClean's corner five minutes after the interval.
But the half struggled to find its flow following separate injury breaks to treat Wilson and Campbell, which saw both players eventually replaced.
Morrison's nightmare night continued after he conceded a penalty for a soft push on Nick Powell.
But Vokes could not take advantage after Smithies guessed the right way in the 59th minute.
And Cardiff hit back as substitute Glatzel levelled at the back post after getting on the end of a Ralls cross just seven minutes after entering the action.
And Morrison headed the winner for Cardiff from six yards after he found space from a corner.
Stoke's Michael O'Neill: "It is disappointing to lose the game, we had chances to add to the goal we had and didn't take them. Cardiff took heart from the penalty save and we have lost the game because of set-pieces. The manner of the goals we conceded is disappointing. I have not seen them back yet to comment on the marking but they were bigger and more physical than us.
"It was a blow losing Tyrese Campbell. He is a big threat for us and he was our first-choice penalty-taker and would have taken that penalty. We are obviously disappointed to lose, it was a good chance for us to get another win and it's two points dropped for us."
Cardiff's Neil Harris: "It feels great to get the win, I'm delighted for the players. It wasn't for the purist. It was a tough battle between two aggressive sides. The conditions were awful with the wind, rain and cold but credit to my players for digging in and staying in the game.
"The big moments went for us with the penalty save, the game has flipped on that save. Credit the players for having the confidence to come from behind, it was impressive. It wasn't one of Sean's (Morrison) finest games, but he has been fantastic for the club and can be excused those nights. It shows his determination and character to be able to put it behind him and get the winner."
