Vrancic cracker sinks Villa as Stoke win friendly

Stoke (1) 2 Villa 0 – 24/7/21 3pm

Two goals at the start of each half sank Premier League’s Aston Villa. Fletch’s 3rd minute header was good, but Vrancic’s 49th minute drive into the top-corner was awesome. For the Stoke fans who didn’t bother to attend, you missed a cracking game and a cracking goal. Here’s how the game unfolded in real time:
It’s almost SEVENTEEN months since we’ve been inside the bet365 to see Stoke City’s first team. Here we have several players who’ll be making their home-crowd debut for Stoke. Some fans will have seen this starting line-up (this time Joe Bursik starts in goal rather than Adam Davies) when Stoke City beat Crewe 3-2 in midweek. Mario Vrancic and Ben Wilmot looked really impressive in. A brilliant first half when City took a 3-0 lead. Here the away end is packed, but the home stands look alarmingly empty… What does that tell us?
2.53 1-0 !!!! Looping cross from the right from Tom Smith is headed into the near corner by Steven Fletcher over the keeper who’s stuck in no-man’s land, and Stoke lead!!!
17.15 Joe Bursik caught just like Davies was at Crewe, but saves the subsequent shot, which cannons off the post. Stoke living dangerously.
45+1 HT Stoke 1 Villa 0 – Well matched sides, but Stoke lead in front of this large Villa crowd…
48.54 2-0 !!! Mario Vrancic strides forward and hits a screamer into the top corner!!! WOW!!!
57.15 Stoke continue to attack with Fletcher just failing to get his head to another decent cross.
59.00 Uh oh! Villa are changing their WHOLE TEAM!!!! No really!!
66.20 Red card for Wesley who appeared to tap heads with Nick Powell after Powell had won a free kick!!
70.00 Stoke replace Fox, Vrancic, Allen, Powell and Alfie with Chester, Clucas, Tymon, Thompson and Adam Porter. See how Stoke play with 3 at back and a completely changed midfield.
78.35 Great shot by Josh Tymon requiring Villa keeper to actually do something.
84.53 Point blank save by Joe Bursik from a corner. 5 minutes left to see if Stoke can keep a clean sheet!
87.08 Will Goodwin replaces Fletcher.
87.52 Josh Tymon hits another rocket, but straight at the keeper this time. Who taught him to shoot??
90.00 FT Stoke 2 Villa 0 – City looking like a force for good!
Dave Lee
Dave Lee
Sports Reporter - Stoke City

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