Stoke (1) 3 Huddersfield 0 15/2/23 7.45
City wiped out the woeful Terriers in one of their easiest wins for ages, Huddersfield dutifully going unnecessarily down to 10 men then obligingly giving away a penalty. However, Stoke professionally took the 3 points, a relief for Alex Neil, no doubt, in this 6 pointer in front of their lowest league crowd of the season. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
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Two newbies appear, and two disappear. Fiery Ben Pearson (another Ben!) starts in midfield (for softy Thompson) and Man Utd’s Axel Tuanzebe sits on the bench. However Hoever (see what I did there?) (it wasn’t worth doing, BTW) and Celina rest up (or watch Arsenal v Man City on Amazon Prime). Alex Neil must win this 6-pointer (he doesn’t see it as a 6 pointer) and his players must play with enthusiam rather than look (in his words) like the club has “sucked the soul” out of them!
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10.43 Newbie Pearson heads the ball and nearly falls over backwards from the impact! He may need some iron supplements.
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12.40 1-0 !!! Captain Phil Jagielka leaps high to get a looping header over everyone into the far top corner. Direct from a left-side corner from Will Smallbone.
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19.07 Tyrese Campbell hits a rasper as if the devil possesses him! Straight at Town keeper Tomas Vaclik, almost knocking him over. A few minutes later a tame shot by Pearson from distance almost does the same for featherweight Tomas. Meanwhile, Alex Neil is almost seen to smile (almost, but not quite) as he jokes with the 4th official! (I know!!!)
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25.55 From nothing Dwight Gayle chases a lost cause towards the corner flag, somehow gets a cross in, which Jake Brown hacks desperately straight at the keeper. A chance of sorts from absolutely nothing. Not like Stoke at all.
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34.40 Jake Brown somehow avoids a yellow after tripping Town’s Jaheim Headley from behind. Replay shows he tripped over a trailing leg, but he probably deserved a yellow just for proximity’s sake.
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39.15 As Smallbone clears, Tyrese is supposedly fouled on the halfway line by No.50 Tony Knockaert, but frankly the replay isn’t so sure, and Town Captain Jon Hogg waves his arms around like he making semaphore signals. (He was probably penalised for having such a high number on his shirt.) But Huddersfield are getting back into this, even hitting the bar from a header by Tom Lees.
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45+1 …and surprise surprise, Ben Pearson gets his first yellow card for Stoke, for an unnecessary trip. Bet Neil has to sub him soon.
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HT City 1 Town 0. But then Town are not very good. Even the sponsors name on their shirts is unreadable! Black on a black background! Give me strength. They’re dressed all in black, and the ref has black shorts and socks (?)
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Attendance 17,700, with 533 away fans (although there only looks like 350, and I’m near enough to count them!)
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58.23 And Stoke attack!! the ball is played out to Morgan Fox, but it rolls off his foot into touch! An easy ball to control, but the crowd are rightly unforgiving. Wasteful!
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63.35 Second yellow! For Will Boyle for a clumsy foul on Dwight Gayle. Ten man Huddersfield aren’t coming back from this now.
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68.58 Pearson knocked over by the ball! It had to happen! More oatcakes for him!
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72.12 2-0 !! Jacob Brown stabs home after everyone else has had a go (actually he has two stabs, with a Wilmot attempt in the middle). From a cross from the left by Tyrese.
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74.45 Piercing Pearson replaced by Tame Thompson. Knew he’d be subbed, surprised it took so long.
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82.01 Lewis Baker, Tezgel and Axel Tuanzebe on for Smallbone, Gayle and Jagielka. So the new boy gets a run. Wilmot swaps over to the left hand side, and Baker takes back the captaincy!
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90+2 Easy save for Sarkic from a free kick. That’s the most he’s had to do today. Solid bloke, though.
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90+3 Penalty! Brown felled in the area. Really unnecessary.
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90+3 3-0 !! Easily put away by Lewis Brown. And the final whistle blows!
