Stoke (1) 2 Wigan 0 – 5/2/22 3pm FA Cup
Stoke’s new blood & super-sub Brown made it look easier than it was. Good open game, controlled by City, & here’s how it unfolded in real time:
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Tony Pulis played all his new signings in the FA Cup game against Hartlepool in 2009 (including Sonko, Soares, Andrew Davies, Tonge, Kitson etc) and LOST by 2-0. So Michael O’Neill (MON) can’t afford to make the same mistake about high-rise League One Wigan, who decide to cool things by not fielding old-boy James McClean, but who’ve brought a huge crowd instead. New signings Liam Moore and Josh Maja debut with newbies Harwood-Bellis & Wright-Phillips (who’s just new to the first team!), and Bursik and Powell return from injury. Joe Allen even gets his captain’s armband back – he must’ve left it on the bus.
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6.05 Keeper Jamie Jones mis-kicks to Tyrese, who takes too long shooting when he should pass to free Maja. His deflected shot speaks volumes.
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8.10 Rea takes out Powell, which was soooo expected. Obligatory, in fact. Nick is
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13.50 1-0 ! Maja scores from a great pass from the right from Tyrese. A superb long ball from Nick Powell under-pressure on the right lands nicely for Tyrese who crosses to Maja, who shrugs off his marker and blasts past keeper Jones. Wunderful!
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32.25 Tom Baylis brings down Joe, and then goes screaming to the ref in protest, implying that his head is about to explode! Believe it or not, the ref is nonplussed (whatever that means). Tom then goes on a dribble running smack into Ben Wilmot who calmly takes the ball off him, sending Tom sprawling. It’s not Tom’s day, I’m afraid!
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44.30 Magennis gets a chance for Wigan, but it’s limply put wide.
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HT 1-0 to James McClean’s former club. Where is he?? Injured foot apparently.
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48.40 Nick Powell pulls out of a challenge but still concedes a free kick. No, even he can’t quite believe it.
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Attendance 12,641 including away 4025!! Really??? If there’s more than 10,000 in here, I’ll eat my hat! 8000 more like.
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52.01 Yellow for Jordan Thompson sliding in a bit worryingly. Wilmot then lucky not to concede a penalty as a cross hits his arm, unseen to ref but not Wigan fans. These fans think everything’s a penalty, including a challenge with Maja that doesn’t go their way. The ref, they feel, isn’t fit. Massey then blasts his chance right at Bursik, the most he’s had to do today, apart from to do the Wordle quiz this morning.
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60.15 Jake Brown for Wright-Phillips, and Sam Clucas on for yellowed Thompson.
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61.24 2-0, as Tyrese thunders through, exchanges a pass with Maja, then slips it to Brown to loop a shot home from the edge of the box. He’s been on the pitch for 70 seconds!
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69.40 Powell replaced by Morgan Fox.
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74.00 2nd yellow for Gwion Edwards. Really soft…nobody even notices him leaving!! Bit Chris Kamara that! “Has he been red carded?!?”
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77.09 Emre Tezgel & Fletch on for Tyrese and Maja.
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86.15 Fletcher gets chance after chance, and even hits the bar, but it’s not going to be his day. Youngster Tezgel having a go too, showing the old dog new tricks.
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89.05 Jake Brown’s header is beaten away from close range, back to normal then!
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90+3 Stoke through to 5th round. Time for a nose bleed!
