Stoke 3 Swansea 0 – 8/2/22 7.45
Swansea started tentatively and Stoke took full advantage, although why it took till the second half to flatten the Welsh side with 3 goals is bewildering. Easier than it looked for Stoke, & it did look easy! Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
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MIchael O’Neill (MON) shuffles the pack, and rests the tired Liam Moore & Maja…and brings back 45-year-old Jagielka!! Meanwhile Swansea fans wonder what they must’ve done to upset the fixture people to have to travel to Stoke on a dark Tuesday night…again!
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17.15 Jaden Philogene-Bidace, with the exuberance of Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso, is playing like he could do this all day, popping up all over the pitch. Football is life!!
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26.27 Blimey, Stoke dominating and playing decent football, and winning the ball…you know, everything! Josh Tymon even volleys a beaut just over the bar. Stoke’s tiny crowd getting excited!
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31.25 Joe Bursik’s pass out is appalling, but thankfully old Phil is there to block the shot. Ouch!
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38.00 Tyrese’s left knee has gone, and even though he knows he’s got to go, he staggers on till Josh Maja is ready to replace him on 44 minutes. Tyrese makes a forlorn figure walking to the changing room.
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HT 0-0, and maybe Stoke have missed their chance…?
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46.14 1-0 !!!! Jaden Philogene-Bidace scuffs his shot into the corner after everyone else’s attempts are charged down. Powell’s attempt is particularly casual.
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Attendance: 17,720 (346 away), lowest league attendance since Spring 2008?
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57.20 Goal! No, penalty! Bennett handles on the line. Ryan is red carded! Looked accidental, but then it looked like the ball had crossed the line.
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58.59 2-0 !!! Lewis Baker sinks the penalty to keeper Fisher’s left. Andy guessed right, but stood no chance. Swansea have used all their subs, so will just have to make do with the players on the pitch, and they’re not very good. Stoke start looking for a third goal, something I haven’t said in years!
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74.53 Clucas on for Powell.
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76.30 Swansea crowd break into “we’ve had a shot!!” After Bursik has to block a simple shot, their first! Dear oh dear!
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77.57 3-0 !!! Jacob The Brown hammers in from the right from quite a sharp angle. Fisher should have done better. Brown lies down in celebration like a dead fish. Is this a jibe at Fisher?!
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79.17 Joe Allen replaced by Wright-Phillips as Stoke go 4-2-4!! Bidace and Brown are pushed out to be wingers!! Baker is now in charge!
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90+4 This steamrolling has finished, & Swansea are obliterated. Stoke 3 Swansea 0
