Mikel Obi bags yellow card as Stoke City win seven-goal thriller against Huddersfield

Mikel Obi bags yellow card as Stoke City win seven-goal thriller against Huddersfield

By Kayode Ogundare

Ex-Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi was on for all 90 minutes but got into the referee’s book as Stoke City secured all three points in a 4-3 win over Huddersfield Town at the Bet365 stadium on Saturday.

The yellow card was Mikel’s second of the season after bagging his first in the 3-2 loss at Watford on November 4. Saturday’s game was also his 13th for Stoke, having played a part in all of his team’s 12 league games so far.

It was the visitors who started brightly, scoring in the 24th minute through Carrel Eiting but Stoke responded promptly with a brace from Tyrese Campbell in the 31st and 33rd minutes.

Huddersfield pulled level through Isaac Mbenza in the 40th minute and Mikel was cautioned in the 44th minute for a foul on Jonathan Hogg but the Potters were determined to end the first half in front and Richard Stearman helped them by putting the ball in his own net off Campbell’s cross.

Sam Clucas put the home side further ahead in the 57th minute but the visitors’ hope of a fightback when Naby Sarr pulled another goal back three minutes later was resisted by Stoke City to ensure a win.

The victory puts Stoke City into seventh position, just one behind but on same 22 points with Swansea, Watford and Reading who jointly occupy the last play-off spot.