I felt the love’ – Stoke City new striker on perfect debut, that chant and making his own luck.

‘I felt the love’ – Stoke City new striker on perfect debut, that chant and making his own luck

First start, first goal and a big three points for Ali Al-Hamadi after signing for Stoke City

 

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Ali Al-Hamadi believes strikers can create their own luck after opening his Stoke City account with a predator’s goal on debut.

 

The 22-year-old was in the right place to slam in a deep cross from Tatsuki Seko that Hull’s defence couldn’t handle just before half-time on Saturday. That was the equaliser for Stoke, who went on to claim a vital three points thanks to a winner from Andrew Moran.

 

It was Al-Hamadi’s first league start of the season having been used as a sub by Ipswich in the Premier League and, having joined the club a week previously, he was relishing the opportunity.

 

 

He said: “It’s been an amazing week of training, the lads have helped me settle in really well, the gaffer and the staff, and it’s been nothing but positivity around the training ground preparing for the game. It was a perfect day really, the away end was bouncing and I’m just happy to be back on the pitch doing what I love doing.”

 

He added in an interview for the club website: “A cross dropped in the box and it was just not thinking too much, trying to be in the right positions. I wanted to go out and enjoy it, play my game and not think too much about finishes or anything, which come naturally.

 

“You have to be in the right positions. Some might call it luck but I think you create your own luck in the box, especially when it’s hard to make chances at any level in the Championship or Premier League. It’s staying ready, staying present and waiting for your opportunity in the game. It could come in the first minute or the 90th, you have to stay ready at all times.

 

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“It’s difficult to win football games and it takes a lot of effort behind the scenes, a lot of effort on the pitch, a lot of effort from the fans to push us through at the end, a lot of effort from the subs and Nathan Lowe playing up front with me shared the workload and ran his absolute… socks off. It takes a lot from everyone and that’s what it’s going to take from now until the end of the season – maximum effort in every aspect.”

 

Stoke and Hull had been level on points, two above the bottom three, before play so it was a big win for the Potters, their first in the league under Mark Robins. They had only lost one of their previous six but they had only won one of their previous 15 in the Championship.

 

Al-Hamadi said: “I think when confidence has maybe been a bit low and we’ve not picked up results – the lads have been telling me we’ve been close a few times. Sometimes you just need the evidence really to prove to yourselves you can do it and see the work you’re doing coming to fruition. But I know it’s a cliché but we have to keep taking it a game at a time, keep learning, keep improving and see where that takes us at the end of the season.”

 

The Iraq international was treated to his own song by the travelling Stoke fans to cap his first day in the club’s colours – a reworked version of Inspiral Carpets’ This Is How It Feels, featuring a namecheck for Tom Cannon, the loanee he has replaced – and he was clearly enjoying the celebrations after the final whistle.

 

He said: “That was really good. When you win a game of football, I know we’re down towards the bottom of the table, but you’ve just got to enjoy it. It’s been a tough season in terms of results and maybe not having many moments like that so when they come you have to enjoy them because it brings everyone together for the next one.

 

 

“I felt the love. I’m really appreciative. To see an away end like that considering we haven’t won many games this season is unbelievable.”

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