Defiant Danny Batth battles to secure thoroughly deserved point away to Bluebirds

Stoke City faced a daunting prospect on Tuesday evening, travelling to Wales to face a Cardiff City side that had only tasted defeat on one occasion in their previous eleven contests, since the arrival of new manager Mick McCarthy.

Lesser sides could have so easily rolled over, but to their credit, the Potters displayed unerring resiliency and battled to secure a thoroughly deserved point. The performance was personified by the all-encompassing exploits of central defender, Danny Batth.

Absent during the two most recent outings against Wycombe Wanderers and Middlesbrough, one unfamiliar with the Stoke City squad would have surmised, on this showing, he had not missed an ounce of the action, Batth, in full flow from the get go.

After an uncomfortable start which drew expletive riddled lamentation from Potters boss Michael O’Neill, Batth performed imperiously, rarely putting a foot wrong.

He formed a cohesive pairing alongside centre-back partner Harry Souttar, and his unquestionable know-how could prove pivotal in shaping the 22-year-old’s development.

He masterfully demonstrated a plethora of key intangibles, crafted throughout a lengthy career in the professional game.

The former Wolves stalwart led by example on a brisk Tuesday evening in the Welsh capital, bullying Bluebirds talisman Kieffer Moore for the duration.

The Welshman, Cardiff’s top-scorer with 16 strikes this campaign, looked uncomfortable from the referee’s first blast of the whistle.

Batth consistently exerted his physical dominance, diligently remaining touch-tight to the imposing Moore, reducing the forward to a multitude of hopeful foul claims – these exasperated bellows falling upon deaf ears.

Also dominating aerially, Batth displayed his proficiency in reading the game. Sheyi Ojo, the former Liverpool product, boasting scintillating pace, embarked upon a series of incisive runs. However, time and time again, the centre-half meticulously analysed, anticipating the danger, and thwarting impeccably.

Centre-back is often an unfashionable position, unless, perhaps, a stylish, modern, ball-playing incarnation. Batth, conversely, is a genuine throwback.

Proudly taking to the arena adorning a protective headband, an ode to previously acquired battle scars, he takes pride in carrying out the dirty work.

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Whether it be soaring above opposing forwards or effortlessly clearing his lines, his rigorously physical playing-style is enough to throw the most composed attackers off their game.

Manhandling opponents, remaining within the laws of the game by utilising his irrefutable savviness, the first stanza in particular gave off an air of men against boys, as Batth fearlessly patrolled the backline, engulfing all that laid in his wake.

His commanding performance embodied the vigorously well-drilled game-plan implemented by Michael O’Neil. The one-time Northern Ireland gaffer, who famously steered his nation to a first European Championships in 2016, on this evidence, is still a shrewd tactician, despite enduring a challenging campaign.

Thunderous clatters from Batth’s countless assertive challenges reverberated around the desolate bowl that Cardiff City Stadium has transformed into devoid of the Bluebirds fiercely loyal supporters, renowned for their raucous vocals.

The instant a ball was played into a frontman, Batth attacked relentlessly, affording no space whatsoever to control and potentially bring other options into play. He also ensured the entire defensive unit followed suit, implementing a strategy that suffocated Cardiff’s attack and nullified any opportunity of a threat being posed.

The Potters almost took full advantage of Batth’s defensive heroics. Joe Allen, returning to his native Wales, glanced a header goalwards in the dying embers after Tommy Smith had lofted a cross to the far post; the diminutive midfielder’s attempt agonisingly cannoning off the crossbar.

Still, the result halted a concerning streak of four consecutive losses on the road, and provides a platform for Stoke as they seek to see out the season in a more encouraging fashion.

Joining the Wolves academy at the age of 15, 6”3 brute, Batth, shrugged off a dislocated shoulder during his reserve team debut just a year later, demonstrating a steely resolve that remains a vital characteristic of his make-up to this day.

Batth was forced to remain patient in his early tenure at Molineux, subjected to a series of loans in order to gather vital experience only garnered through regular playing time.

Initially he was farmed out to Aidy Boothroyd’s Colchester United in 2009. Then a League One outfit, he would go on to make 17 appearances in Essex, collecting a man of the match award on his debut, a 2-0 victory over Hartlepool United, before notching his first senior goal, which proved to be a decisive strike in a 1-0 defeat of Oldham Athletic.

Following his time with the U’s, Batth would be afforded the opportunity to make his presence known on both sides of the Steel City. Having scooped Wolves’ ‘Young Professional of the Year’ award, disappointingly, he only turned out for the Blades once during a month-long loan.

On a more positive note, this period did coincide with his Wolves debut, helping eliminate Southend United from the League Cup, he was also named a substitute for three Premier League fixtures against West Ham United, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

His full breakthrough in the West Midlands was further delayed, the Englishman showcasing admirable patience and determination as he made a loan switch to Hillsborough.

He first joined Sheffield Wednesday at the tail end of the 2010/11 season, thoroughly impressing during ten appearances. The Owls re-signed Batth the following campaign, initially on a six-month basis, though, with his services becoming ever more pivotal to a promotion chasing side, this was extended to a full season.

In total, the centre-half made 54 appearances in the blue half of Sheffield, notching a pair of goals as Wednesday clinched promotion to the Championship as runners-up. His impressively consistent showings also resulted in a runner-up mark on a personal level, Batth finishing second in the ‘Player of the Season’ stakes.

Having monitored from afar, Wolves finally decided to make use of Batth’s quality, albeit, on a somewhat restricted basis. Granted, he scored his first goal in Wolves colours in a League Cup clash with Northampton Town, following that up by opening his league goalscoring account, in a 2-2 stalemate at Elland Road.

However, he made just 12 appearances throughout the 2012/13 season, as Wolves suffered relegation from the Championship. Batth made enough of an impression during limited opportunities, the Wolves hierarchy taking up an option within his contract to re-sign him for an additional year.

Incoming manager, Kenny Jackett, took an immediate shine to Batth, installing him as vice-captain. It was a prelude to an incredibly memorable 2013/14, as Wolves reclaimed their Championship status, crowned champions, setting a League One record points haul of 103.

Batth’s contribution to the achievement was recognised by way of a new long-term deal, he was also voted into the PFA League One Team of the Year.

Continuing on from a season in which he remained an ever-present in the starting XI, Batth took to the Championship like a duck to water, transitioning seamlessly in what was his first experience of serving as a regular starter in England’s second tier.

Operating alongside Richard Stearman, a formidable partnership that saw Wolves boast one of the division’s best defensive records, Batth also became a feared proposition at the other end of the pitch.

He recorded three goals, also reaching the 100 appearances mark for the club at the tender age of just 24. The campaign would end in heartache, however, as Wolves narrowly missed out on a play-off spot to Ipswich Town, whilst Batth was unable to feature during the latter stages due to a fractured foot.

Things appeared to be ticking along swimmingly, he racked up another 39 appearances in 2015/16, and, a day after his 26^th birthday, penned a new four-year deal at Molineux.

However, due to the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo in 2017 and Wolves’ rapid rise to the Premier League, Batth was deemed surplus to requirements, forced to cut ties with the Black Country club.

He was initially shipped out on loan to Middlesbrough but struggled to make his mark under the watchful eye of pragmatist, Tony Pulis. Ultimately, after a miserly 13 appearances, the deal was cut short and Batth returned to his parent club in January.

In what must have been an emotional parting of ways, considering the long association with Wolves, a club where he totalled just shy of 200 appearances, the defender left Molineux permanently during 2019’s winter transfer window, Championship side Stoke swooping to obtain his services in what was a three-and-a-half-year deal.

“It was a surprise, a real surprise, but it was a really nice responsibility for me to have on the day.

“Obviously I have only just come in here, so it was a positive thing for me to wear the armband in Ryan’s absence – it was a proud moment for me.

“I am the sort of player who does the same things whether I have the armband or not though in fairness – I don’t alter the way I approach the game at all. I will always give 110 percent for the club, and I will always lead and help to organise when we are out on the field.” – Danny Batth speaking to The Stoke Sentinel after becoming the first Potters player to captain the team on his debut in 18 years, Feb 2019

Credit where credit’s due, he refused to be discouraged, adapting flawlessly to a new regime, reinventing himself in order to continually thrive within a division he has enjoyed such success in previously.

Still only 30 years of age, if Stoke are to fully exploit the supreme man-management ability that manager Michael O’Neill possesses, and push for promotion next season, as some had anticipated would be the case this campaign; Batth figures to play a prominent part in solidifying the Potters rear-guard.

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