Stoke City take it easy in 2-0 cup win vs Doncaster

Stoke (1) 2 Doncaster 0 24/8/21 7.45 Carabao Cup

Stoke’s 2nd Eleven team breezed past Doncaster with very little effort. It could easily have been a friendly. Here’s how this amiable (yet almost forgettable) game unfolded in real time:

ELEVEN change for Stoke, and keeper Adam Davies brought in for the penalties! Romaine Sawyers makes his starting debut, youngster Christian Norton starts up front with new signing Sam Surridge, and Batth and Captain Chester are in charge at the back. Tom Ince wins the annual Charlie Adam Forgotten Players Making A Rare Start award.
14.10 Sam Surridge learning what Doncaster defenders can get away with as he is impeded (ie grappled!) by Horton in the area…and gets nothing! Ref, are you watching BBC2 or something?!
18.25 Doncaster fans claiming they “want to go home”. Rovers aren’t THAT bad, guys!
19.10 Norton is now grappled to the ground…and gets nothing!! This time the Stoke fans are very annoyed, and are very uncomplimentary about the private habits of the referee. To miss one grapple is unfortunate, to miss two quite blatant attempts to remove the opponent’s shirt is astonishing. The replays are particularly damning.
24.18 This time it’s Tom Ince grappled, but this time the ref not only gives Stoke the free kick, but unnecessarily books Ed Williams! He’s either hot or cold, this ref.
29.20 Ref now getting the hang of things, particularly as Christian Norton is “topped” again.
33.01 Surridge gets on the end of a long cross from the left to bring a save out of keeper Jones. This may be the way forward for Stoke attacks.
37.53 1-0 !!! Tom Ince hits a rebound home from close range, as keeper Jones fails to hold the gentlest of shots from Morgan Fox.
40.27 On the rebound, Stoke have to defend desperately and Adam Davies has to make a finger tipped save to his left for a corner. City caught daydreaming.
42.30 Norton is assaulted, charged in the back, and the ref doesn’t want to know! What is going on?? Norton will need traction, surely.
Half time: City 1 Rovers 0 (Ref -3)
Attendance 6193
47.53 2-0 !! Sam Surridge slams home after receiving an easy cross from Doughty, set up to the left by Sawyers. Sam had all the time in the world. Rovers had actually come out looking the brighter! False dawn.
52.30 Doncaster fans reiterate that they want to go home. This time, I concur; Rovers ARE that bad.
56.10 Flying header from Surridge is beaten away dramatically by Jones, but Sam was offside. Despite Ince on the right, all the best crosses are coming in from the left. Just saying.
65.00 30 seconds after getting an unnecessary yellow card, Surridge is subbed by Fletcher, with Jacob Brown on for Christian Norton. Goals coming, hopefully…?
72.50 As the screen replays Tom Ince’s obligatory shot into the side netting, Super Mario Vrancic comes on for Adam Porter.
FT CITY 2 Rovers 0 (Ref zero).
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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