Berra kicks off the Stoke countdown

SUNDERLAND V WOLVES 19 GD 27 Wolves defender Christophe Berra has kicked off the countdown to Saturday’s derby at Stoke by warning the team are in for an aerial bombardment.

The Scotland international and former Potters loanee Jody Craddock have been in superb form recently, as Mick McCarthy’s men emerged with draws against Everton and Villa in the last two games.

Now a different test awaits in Stoke, who are renowned for their aerial threat from set-pieces, with Berra believing they are in for a busy afternoon.

He said: “Stoke is not going to be easy. There’s going to be a lot of defending. They play a lot of high balls, they have a lot of tall players and aerially they’re a very dangerous team.

“They score a lot of goals from corners and throw-ins so, defensively, we have got to be on our toes.”

But Berra insists they have done their homework.

He said: “We’ve been working hard on that aspect of our play. But it’s not just me and Jody. When we come back for corners and free-kicks, we’ve all got jobs to do so we defend as a unit.

“It worked well against Villa but we’re back on the training ground again preparing for Stoke.”

Looking back to Saturday, Berra insists a penalty for his challenge on Villa striker John Carew would have been very harsh in the 1-1 draw.

The big Norwegian tumbled in the area, as the forward and the defender wrestled for the ball in the 23rd minute.

But Berra said: “It was never a penalty. He was holding me and I was up tight, but he’s a big boy and he should be able to handle that. He was trying to turn me and if that had been a penalty, I’d have been very disappointed.”

Wolves are in action again tonight at Tamworth in the Birmingham Senior Cup.

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