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September 20, 2024
Hull City secured their first season victory with a 3-1 comeback win over Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium. Ben Wilmot gave the hosts an early lead in Narcís Pèlach’s debut as Stoke manager, but three goals in 17 minutes saw Tim Walter’s Hull side claim their first win under his leadership.
Kasey Palmer, making his first start for Hull, headed in the equalizer after his penalty had been saved by Viktor Johansson. Substitute Regan Slater added Hull’s second, and Wilmot’s goal sealed the turnaround.
Hull arrived in Staffordshire winless in their first five games, having only scored twice. Despite dominating possession in the first half, they struggled to create clear chances. Mohamed Belloumi missed the target twice, while Palmer sent a free-kick over the bar.
Stoke, under new management after replacing Steven Schumacher with former Norwich coach Pèlach, started brightly. Bae Jun-ho and Lewis Koumas both came close in the opening 10 minutes. Million Manhoef forced a save from Ivor Pandur before Wilmot headed in from Bae’s corner to give Stoke the lead—exactly a year since his last goal for the club.
Stoke could have doubled their advantage before half-time when Tom Cannon’s clever movement allowed Manhoef a clear run at goal, but the Dutchman scuffed his shot wide.
Hull’s fortunes shifted just after the hour mark when Belloumi won a penalty following a clumsy foul by Eric Bocat. Palmer’s initial spot-kick was saved by Johansson, but he reacted quickly to nod in the rebound, leveling the score.
Wilmot’s evening worsened when he inadvertently set up Hull’s second goal, allowing Liam Millar to assist Regan Slater, who blasted the ball past Johansson. Two minutes later, Wilmot’s nightmare was complete as he turned Palmer’s cross into his net, sealing Stoke’s fourth defeat in five league games.
The result gives Hull much-needed momentum, while Stoke are left searching for answers after another disappointing performance.
Stoke City fires Steven Schumacher, and they want Norwich’s Narcís Pelach as their coach.
Permission to speak with the Spaniard about replacing fired Steven Schumacher has been granted. Stoke City now plans to name Norwich’s first-team coach, Narcís Pelach, their new manager.
Pelach joined Norwich last year to work for David Wagner, and after his appointment in May, Johannes Hoff Thorup kept him on. Pelach was previously employed by Carlos Corberán, the head coach of West Brom, at Huddersfield Town, where he twice filled in as interim manager. The 36-year-old has additionally served as Girona’s assistant in La Liga.
Pelach had previously stated that he wanted his teams to dominate to outline his coaching philosophies at Norwich. “We want to be the main team and go for the game,” Pelach said. “We want to play with an arrogance and we don’t want to be fearing or scared opponents.”
After 32 games, Schumacher, who signed a contract with Stoke from Plymouth in December of last year, will depart before it expires in 2027. The technical director, Jon Walters, a former forward for Stoke, is spearheading the hunt for Schumacher’s replacement. In the last five years, Pelach might have been Stoke’s sixth permanent manager.
Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross will assume interim leadership roles in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round match against Fleetwood. However, Stoke hopes to have Pelach available for Friday’s match against Hull.
Schumacher’s departure comes after a 1-0 loss at Oxford that left Stoke 13th after two wins and three defeats from their opening five matches.
Schumacher joined the club from Plymouth Argyle in December 2023, replacing Alex Neil, and steered the team to Championship safety with a 17th-placed finish last season.
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