With Albion looking decent for a change and Stoke like lost little boys this was always going to end with City put to the sword. Stoke never looked like they were in this game, and relegation is a real possibility without drastic action. More embarrassing was that it was on TV.
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Here is the final whistle report from Dave Lee:
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And here is how this debacle unfolded in real time:
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Blimey. Managerless Stoke (has a familiar ring to it) face another top side – if Albion win they go top (is the scenario this week). So, Rory & Rooster are in charge and make 5 changes, recalling the likes of Butland & Vokes. Not one crazy-looking long-thrower amongst them. Full-backs Ward (from bench) & Tommy Smith (from oblivion) are also brought in. Gregory, Edwards, Etebo, Indi are no doubt licking their wounds somewhere. For the purposes of the poppy silence stuff, James McClean is deep on the bench. But the irony of hearing the booms & bangs of a nearby firework display during the minute’s silence is not lost on the many.
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1.30 Stoke nearly concede a penalty & a goal in the first 90 seconds.
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5.12 Blimey, Campbell has a shot on target in the first 6 minutes.
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7.18 0-1 ! Stoke look vulnerable down their right (Mr Smith), and Grady Diangana waltzes through to cross for Matt Phillips to easily hammer home. A typical Nathan Jones start to the game…
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15.11 Clucas barges through midfield like a machete through animal flesh!!! Finally wins a free kick after being hacked down. Home fans appreciative, and it leads to Vokes’ header straight at the keeper. Shots on target? We’re not used to that.
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28.10 After Joe Allen is clearly impeded, Stoke are penalised for 3 offences all at once. Clucas is yellowed for one, and a free-kick conceded for another. Naughty Pereira immediately gets his painful revenge on Clucas.
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34.11 Interesting to see Joe Allen finally taking his captaincy seriously, getting involved as the ref has to “chat” with Badou. (Previously, he’d turn his back & ignorantly ignore this stuff, allowing his player to talk himself into trouble.) However, when Clucas is hacked down again by Livermore, Joe fails to protect his player again.
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44.10 After Lindsay gives Sawyers a bloody nose, Liam falls really badly jumping over dawdling Batth to head clear. Thankfully he’s fine.
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HT: LeagueOneLookingSide 0 WBA 1
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45.25 Ward penalised for watching an Albion player fall over! Thanks, ref.
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47.06 Carter-Vickers blasts over from close range. In truth he was never going to score…
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Attendance given as 22,360, but frankly i can’t see more than 20,000 here.
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60.05 Oh wow! James McClean comes on for Liam Lindsay! No real change to shape as Ward moves to the back-3. McClean immediately bombing down the left to cross the ball.
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63.15 Carter-Vickers & Smith mess up an advance down the right, and the Albion fans demand to know what the hell was that.
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65.40 Penalty to Albion as Carter-Vickers mis-times a last-ditch tackle on Diangana.
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68.08 0-2 !! Robson-Kanu taps the ball down the middle. Stoke aren’t coming back from this.
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70.04 Robson-Kanu hits the post! Seemed easier to score.
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73.10 Joe Allen muscled off the ball, showing his many weaknesses. Ince on for Campbell. Can’t see that changing much…
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78.01 Ball fired into Albion crowd by one of their forwards, and the fans can’t get it back on to the pitch quick enough! At least they’re having fun.
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81.20 Rory Delap takes his hands out of his pockets long enough to explain to Duffy what the hell is going on, before sending him on for Badou Ndiaye. When are we going to see 4-4-2 again? Can’t understand why Vokes is still on, but would Hogan make any difference without Gregory?
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86.35 Killer cross from McClean isn’t converted. Best chance for Stoke blown.
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89.00 After Albion fans “ole” their passing, Stoke fans have a go too!
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90+4 Ref brings this debacle to a halt, with Albion top & Stoke bottom. 0-2…but could have been worse.
