Stoke's 'biggest threat' made a comeback at just the right time!

A LATE own goal from Will Fish earned Stoke City a 1-0 win of huge significance at the bottom of the Championship. Here are the talking points from South Wales.

- Peter Smith

ANOTHER BIG LATE WIN IN CARDIFF

There was a moment when Ryan Mmaee was warming up in this tense match that it was tempting to think of echoes of Souleymane Oulare, and although that wasn't the script this time, the vital scene did come in the embers again, like in 2002, and it sparked a similar reaction in the away end, albeit at a different stadium.

Stoke created the better opportunities but when each was spurned it came to a point that it looked like another might not come. A 0-0 was arguably better for Stoke than Cardiff, at least in the moment, but with the fixtures that follow it wouldn't have been overly celebrated by the travelling supporters.

But sometimes there is nothing sweeter than an ugly goal, scrapping one over the line in a scramble - or a defender doing it for you.

For a chunk of this season, Own Goal was Stoke's biggest threat and it was excellent timing to make a comeback. But Stoke forced it with drive and urgency when it mattered.

They are not safe yet, but the reaction said everything, in the home and away stands.