1994–95 Stoke City F.C. season


The 1994–95 season was Stoke City's 88th season in the Football League and 32nd in the second tier.
In the summer of 1994 manager Joe Jordan made a number of alterations to his squad with the best being the signing of Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City. As the season started there was no change in the fans' relationship with Jordan and it came as no surprise when he resigned in September. Asa Hartford took the caretaker role until Lou Macari made a return from Celtic. His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 and there were high hopes that it could spark a promotion push. Alas just one win from 13 matches saw Stoke finish in a mid table position of 11th.

Season review

League

In the summer of 1994 Joe Jordan brought in Canadian Paul Peschisolido from Birmingham City in a deal which sent striker Dave Regis to St. Andrews along with £200,000. He also brought in Carl Muggleton, Keith Downing and John Dreyer. Everyone knew that the 1994–95 season was going to be a tough one and manager Jordan arranged a strenuous pre-season training camp in Scotland. The league programme started with a 1–0 victory over Tranmere Rovers but this was followed up with poor results which saw Stoke lose 4–0 back-to-back at Reading and then Bolton Wanderers. Shortly after that defeat at Bolton Jordan resigned which was unsurprising as he remained unpopular with the club's supporters.
Asa Hartford assumed the role of caretaker manager for a short time and in his four games in charge Stoke won three. On 30 September 1994 Lou Macari became the first manager to have a second spell at the club returning from Celtic. His first match back saw Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion 4–1 but a poor defeat against Luton Town in the next match saw his attentions turn to strengthening the squad. In came Kevin Keen, Ray Wallace and Lárus Sigurðsson as Stoke entered 1995 just out of the top group of teams. But just one win in 13 saw Stoke fall further behind and whilst there was no danger of dropping too greatly there was no hope of catching the promotion contenders and Stoke had to settle for a mid-table finish of 11th picking up 63 points.

FA Cup

Stoke didn't have to wait too long to come up against Joe Jordan who had returned to Bristol City and he was given a frosty reception by the supporters but his side managed to win the third round replay at the Victoria Ground 3–1.

League Cup

Stoke drew Fulham in the second round and after a 3–2 loss at Craven Cottage Stoke beat Fulham 1–0 and progressed via the away goals rule. In the next round Stoke lost to eventual winners Liverpool, 2–1 at Anfield.

Final league table

Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Legend

Football League First Division

MatchDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
113 August 1994Tranmere RoversH1–015,915Gleghorn 49'
220 August 1994BurnleyA1–115,331Dreyer 90'
327 August 1994SunderlandH0–113,159
430 August 1994ReadingA0–47,103
53 September 1994Bolton WanderersA0–411,515
610 September 1994Southend UnitedH4–111,808Örlygsson 10', Edwards 13', Dreyer 47', Biggins 62'
714 September 1994Charlton AthleticH3–210,643Gleghorn 17', Örlygsson 22', Peschisolido 55'
817 September 1994Notts CountyA2–08,281Peschisolido 31', 70'
925 September 1994Derby CountyA0–311,782
102 October 1994West Bromwich AlbionH4–114,203Carruthers 24', 87', Wallace 35', Peschisolido 68'
119 October 1994Luton TownH1–211,712Carruthers 80'
1215 October 1994MillwallA1–17,856Peschisolido 55'
1322 October 1994Oldham AthleticA0–08,954
1430 October 1994Wolverhampton WanderersH1–115,928Keen 17'
152 November 1994Sheffield UnitedH1–111,556Gleghorn 77'
165 November 1994BarnsleyA0–25,117
1719 November 1994Grimsby TownH3–021,055Peschisolido 23', 44', Carruthers 60'
1826 November 1994WatfordA0–09,126
1930 November 1994PortsmouthA1–05,272Beeston 74'
204 December 1994Oldham AthleticH0–112,558
2110 December 1994BurnleyH2–013,040Örlygsson 68' 83'
2217 December 1994Tranmere RoversA1–07,601Carruthers 81'
2326 December 1994Swindon TownH0–017,662
2428 December 1994Bristol CityA1–38,500Cranson 83'
2531 December 1994MiddlesbroughH1–115,914Gleghorn 20'
2614 January 1995Wolverhampton WanderersA0–228,298
274 February 1995PortsmouthH0–29,704
2811 February 1995Sheffield UnitedA1–113,900Peschisolido 18'
2921 February 1995Grimsby TownA0–06,384
3025 February 1995West Bromwich AlbionA3–116,591Scott 34', Peschisolido 65', 80'
314 March 1995Derby CountyH0–013,462
3211 March 1995SunderlandA0–112,282
3314 March 1995Port ValeA1–119,510Sandford 33'
3418 March 1995ReadingH0–114,121
3521 March 1995Southend UnitedA2–44,240Allen 48', Biggins 59'
3625 March 1995Notts CountyH2–110,204Gleghorn 13', Sturridge 77'
371 April 1995Charlton AthleticA0–010,008
384 April 1995WatfordH1–09,578Sigurðsson 43'
398 April 1995MiddlesbroughA1–220,867Peschisolido 30'
4012 April 1995BarnsleyH0–010,752
4115 April 1995Bristol CityH2–110,172Andrade 27', Peschisolido 89'
4217 April 1995Swindon TownA1–010,549Örlygsson 35'
4322 April 1995Port ValeH0–120,429
4429 April 1995MillwallH4–39,111Scott 15', Gleghorn 39', 65' Keen 90'
453 May 1995Bolton WanderersH1–115,557Örlygsson 12'
467 May 1995Luton TownA3–28,252Örlygsson 52', Peschisolido 79', Scott 87'

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R37 January 1995Bristol CityA0–09,683
R3 Replay18 January 1995Bristol CityH1–311,579Scott 17'

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R2 1st Leg20 September 1994FulhamA2–33,721Örlygsson 69', Gleghorn 70'
R2 2nd Leg29 September 1994FulhamH1–07,440Peschisolido 2'
R325 October 1994LiverpoolA1–232,060Peschisolido 41'

Anglo-Italian Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
Group Match 124 August 1994CesenaA2–01,139Clark 38', Carruthers 76'
Group Match 26 September 1994AnconaH1–13,380Biggins 50'
Group Match 35 October 1994UdineseA3–11,200Downing 69', Biggins 73', Butler 74'
Group Match 415 November 1994PiacenzaH4–07,240Butler 12', Carruthers 37', 50', Gleghorn 85'
Semi Final 1st leg24 January 1995Notts CountyA0–05,134
Semi Final 2nd leg31 January 1995Notts CountyH0–0 10,741

Friendlies

Squad statistics