Aston Villa 0 Stoke (1) 1
-1/10/20 7pm Carabao Cup
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Stoke City reached the Quarter Finals of the Carabao (League) Cup after beating another Premier midlands side away from home. The 1-0 win was more comfortable than the scoreline records. So, here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
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Villa bounced back to the Premier after relegation. Stoke haven’t. They last met at Villa Park 22 months ago, & none of tonight’s Stoke starting lineup played back then in a 2-2 draw. Where is Crouchy? (On tv?) Where is Saido? (In prison?). Where is Cuco Martina? (In oblivion?). Can Stoke cause another upset? Without Cuco? We will see.
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0.40 Vokes puts a tame cross from the right. Never going to reach Tyrese. Thought we’d seen the last of Sam…
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5.07 After clearly visiting the barbers, Powell sends a free kick off towards the corner flag.
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8.40 Jacob Brown has a go at crossing, but he’s no improvement on Sam Vokes as it sails off towards Solihull. The shooting and passing on both sides is grim, and is particularly dangerous for the ball boys in the stand.
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24.15 Powell gets a shot on target (a first for the players tonight!). Tipped over for a corner by keeper Jed Steer. (Or Steer-ed over by Jed…!)
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25.05 1-0 ! !! Sam Vokes heads home, a flick header from a Thompson corner from the right. How that went in from that angle (and after all the things I said about him!) I’ll never know…
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30.30 Villa’s Lansbury misses a clear header so badly that even Souttar gives the player a look of disbelief. “How did you miss THAT??”
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40.08 VIlla miss another sitter at the far post. It’s almost like they’re doing this on purpose to concentrate on the Premier League.
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42.22 Now Powell misses a sitter, with a cross landing at his feet, ricocheting away off his shins. What’s going on?
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45+1 HT Prem side 0 Champ side 1.
Sam Vokes scores for Stoke. I knew he’d produce the goods..
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49.10 Campbell and Brown get a couple of shots in that aren’t too disgraceful. Tyrese’s is blocked, Brown is over & out, but it was under pressure.
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53.02 ANOTHER sitter missed, this time by Sam Vokes. I was right about him all along! A Tymon long cross headed well wide, and that’s being kind.
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64.28 A late tackle by Ramsey on a Stoke player (Brown) & he gains a yellow card. Good thing it’s not Aaron Ramsey or the internet would light up.
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66.07 Adam Davies gets down to make a decent save from El Ghazi, one of only two Villa players who started the last time these two met at Villa Park.
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70.15 Smith and Fletcher on for Tyrese and Vokes. Smith relieves Brown who moves up front to aid Fletch. I think. Michael O’Neill has a habit of switching the strikers to stir things up late on.
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83.40 Watkins falls over in the box, but the ref’s not interested as he’s only interested in Villa progressing in the Premier League too. Clearly.
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90.00 Yes, that’s Martin Atkinson as 4th official! He announces 4 extra minutes. Nail biting moments.
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90+4 Even the keeper comes up for the last corners…but it’s not enough!
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Final Score Aston Villa 0 Stoke City 1, and City are through to the Quarter Finals! Another famous win.
