Revenge for United as Stoke City outclassed in Sheffield

It’s only one win in 7 for Stoke. Feels like it too. United set for the Premier, Stoke in 20th, 2 points from the drop. Revenge for Sheffield, but Stoke City need to turn the corner or the third tier beckons. Yes, it’s one of those bleak reports! Oh, & Nick Powell is injured again surprise-surprise. Here’s how this one unfolded in real time:

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Sheffield United are clear in 2nd place. They were top when City beat them 3-1 at the bet365. Where are Stoke? Why aren’t they up near the top?? Ex-Blade Phil Jagielka returns to face his old side, Powell replaces Campbell, and the team play in all white. Liam Delap, meanwhile, has run off to the North, never to be seen again.

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0.00 As Stoke take the knee, United fans sing John Denver’s Annie’s Song! Next up they sing Manfred Mann’s Doo Wah Diddy. Are we trapped in a pre-punk world here??

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6.15 Jagielka raises his hand to catch United offside. He’s taken over Bramall Lane again!

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8.25 0-1 !! Smart move by United across the box, then a  short low cross from the left by Max Lowe and slipped home by Iliman Ndiaye. Stoke carved open so easily.

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20.20 Baker blasts a free kick straight into the United wall. Pointless. It’s followed by a poor cross by Wilmot, an appalling corner by Thompson and a weedy shot by Powell. Inept.

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32.45 0-2 ! United slice straight through City as if they’re not there, with Jayden Bogle slotting home. Keeper Jack could have done better – he could have booked a holiday away this week, for example. This could get messy for Stoke and Alex Neil.

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38.45 Jordan Thompson’s shot goes into orbit then he claims a corner! This is the state of things.

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45+1 1-2 !!!!! Bizarre goal, a ball is lobbed into the area by Powell, Brown misses it, and so does keeper Wes Foderingham. But a goal is a goal!!

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HT United 2 City 1 (same as the Manchester derby at lunchtime)

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55.15 Josh Laurent gets a yellow card, not for a malicious challenge, but for ineptness, I reckon. Clearly lacking.

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71.12 Jagielka does his heroic defending which made him revered here at Bramall Lane. You don’t mess with Phil.

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75.15 Sander Berge blasts over when it looked easier to score for United. Good move by the Blades…but wasted. Stoke subs imminent. As I suspected, Campbell and Clarke await. Gayle and Fosu might be next.

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78.10 Tyrese and HarryC on for Powell and Wilmot.

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81.34 Great work by Tyrese on the right, snapping in an awesome cross for Brown to head at the keeper. Looked better in real time. Honestly!

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85.10 Gayle on for Thompson. I could write the script for this.

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89.33 1-3  !! And United have got their revenge on Stoke. As the rain floods down, Jagielka makes another heroic challenge, but the ball breaks to United’s right, and the cross finds two players unmarked. Bogle can’t really miss.

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90+2 Souttar lucky not to be red carded as the last man. But it did look like he was initially fouled.

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FT Thank god that’s over. 1-3.