Barnsley (1) 2 Stoke 0 – 24/2/21 7pm
Stoke were taken to the cleaners by Barnsley, outplayed all over the pitch. This game is best swept under the carpet, but here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
–
It’s Capt Obi Mikel replacing Capt Joe Allen, which should speak volumes. Two 19 year olds join the bench (Defender Forrester & Striker Norton), but which will get brought on with 10 minutes to go? Norton, I suspect. Nick Powell is so on form, he will no doubt be clattered in the FIRST 10 minutes. Barnsley’s pitch looking as grim as Blackburn’s. What are they teaching them in Groundsmen School??
–
8.14 0-1 !! Superb strike by Styles as Brown’s headed clearance from the corner lands nicely for Callum to drive from 25 yards into Gunn’s left hand corner. A real stunner, a real shocker for Stoke.
–
32.50 Frieser lobs the ball over Gunn, but he’s offside. Barnsley out-classing Stoke so far.
–
36.30 Souttar and Batth fighting to score, but Harry eventually blasts it over. Defenders, eh?
–
41.05 Fletcher connects with Smith cross, but is thankfully offside as his shot flies off towards Rotherham.
–
HT Rubbish Pitch 1 Stoke 0
–
48.42 For some reason Sam Vokes is coming on (!). For Fletcher. Why not Christian Norton?? Now Capt Joe is on for Thompson.
–
74.04 Clarke on for Tymon, Cousins on for Smith.
–
76.02 Powell almost sneaks in before keeper Collins catches the ball. That’ll count as half a chance.
–
78.30 Brown almost put through, but he’s muscled off the ball. Best chance of the half…
–
82.30 Brown limps off & replaced by Oakley-Boothe. What a strange combination of players on now.
–
88.45 Harry Souttar blocking a cross in the style of Harry McGuire.
–
89.43 0-2 !! Dike sneaks through Stoke’s defence, and beats Gunn easily. All over. No late Vokes equaliser…
–
90+1 Frustrated Powell decides to join Batth and Mikel in the ref’s book.
–
FT Barnsley 2 Stoke 0 – Stoke taken to the cleaners
