Stoke (2) 3 Sheffield Utd (1) 1 – 8/10/22 3pm
A stunning Stoke win is backed up by a solid performance against top of the table Sheffield. City fans haven’t seen the like for a long time. Even Liam Delap got in on the act. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
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As if Watford and Burnley weren’t hard enough, here comes top of the table United, dragging with them the tenacious ex-Stokie Rhys Norrington-Davies. I see sparks flying already. Stoke have Josh Laurent back in the middle – he’d better look more awake than last time! Relegated to subs bench is Liam Delap, who is rejoined by returning Clucas & Thompson.
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0.39 Typically Tommy Doyle slips through and somehow his shot slides wide. Big let off for Stoke! They usually concede this early.
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2.50 Brilliant flick from Gayle sends Tyrese off down the wing, winning a corner that results in….
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3.42 1-0!!!!! Brilliant cross by Jagielka from the right for Ben Wilmot to stroke home the half-volley at the far post. Stoke crowd politely ask United who they are? (Hull in disguise?)
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12.10 Fosu hits a pile driver, but it’s palmed back out by keeper Wes Foderingham – yes, that really is his name. (I think he’s related to the Buckingham Foderinghams)
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20.20 Brilliant diving save to the top left by Bursik from Tommy the Doyle. The subsequent corner sees Fosu heading off the line after a brilliant United set-piece. Watching a different Stoke City here.
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27.45 1-1 !! A cross from McAtee on the left is half-volleyed home by unmarked Rhian Brewster. Stoke players and crowd are adamant that the ball had gone out as it was being crossed, leaving Stoke players looking for the flag which never came. Foolhardy.
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32.38 Fosu goes down in the box, but it looks unconvincing, he then fires a shot against the bar. This isn’t over till it’s over!
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37.35 United hit the post, it rebounds off Bursik, who grabs it before it crosses the goal line!
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41.02 In a break in the game due to an injury, Sterling is seen scratching his head as Alex Neil tries to explain something to him. It must mean something.
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43.30 Weirdly, Gayle is penalised for non-contact challenge with keeper as Wes wastes time. (Maybe it’s the Hertfordshire Foderinghams.)
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45+3 2-1!! Header by Jagielka from a Lewis Baker corner from the left!!
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HT 20th placed red&whites 2 Top placed red&whites 1
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Attendance 22,008 (mostly as a result of a busy away end).
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51.40 First example of Tyrese intimidating a defender, but failing to get a penalty. Former-Stokie Norrington-Davies is non-plussed.
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54.20 Fosu hits a monster of a volley that’s cleared off the line. Josh Tymon will struggle to unseat him! Ooops!
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60.15 Tyrese shot from nowhere brings out another dived save by Wes.
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62.01 Fosu booked for diving…BUT THE REPLAY CLEARLY SHOWS HE WAS FOULED! Soon after Norwood clatters into Fosu in an off the ball incident and gets no punishment.
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71.11 Delap on for Gayle.
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71.56 Laurent tripped…and the ref doesn’t give it!!
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77.15 Delap is wrestled to the ground….and the ref…(well, you can guess the rest!)
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80.25 Ref FINALLY gives a foul on Fosu, and gets the biggest applause of the day!!
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81.55 Harry Clarke replaces Sterling, and Sam Clucas replaces Smallbone.
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82.55 Jagielka gets a kick up the arse as he guides a ball for a goal kick. Close up shows he gets up with a smile, so it must go with the territory.
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85.15 Tyrese crosses from the left, but Delap can’t connect for an obvious goal. It’s not going to happen for him. Ben Wilmot is yellowed for kicking the ball away, although some other Stoke players are lucky not to be booked before now.
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90+1 3-1 !!!! great move sees Tyrese cross from the left for Delap to score in an empty net! Extraordinary!
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90+3 Lewis Baker is pushed over the advertisement hoarding! Fisticuffs! Weirdness. Yellow card. Thompson comes on for Baker wearing a mask!
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FT Stoke 3 Sheffield 1 – Best game of the season!
