Stoke City don carry three points for their hand today as dem beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 for bet365 Stadium. The match wey kick off by 3pm na one wey Stoke dey control from beginning to end, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi score the only goal for the 33rd minute.
Sheffield Wednesday wey don already dey relegated to League One come with more than three thousand fans, but dem no fit show any serious threat. The away team wey dem dock 18 points this season because of administration problems, only get one win since September.
For the early minutes of the game, Stoke dey press wella. Lamine Cisse almost score for the 2nd minute when Rak-Sakyi set am up, but the shot go just wide. Bosun Lawal even try one long shot for the 17th minute after e burst forward from centre-back position.
The wind dey blow strong for the stadium as Storm Dave dey pass, make corner kicks and crosses dey difficult to control. But Stoke players manage am well.
For the 8th minute, play stop as all the fans and players join pay tribute to Ollie Royles, one eight-year-old Stoke fan wey die on March 14. The boy wey suffer from cancer before, don lead these same two teams out for Good Friday last year. E family dey the stadium today.
When the game resume, Stoke continue to dominate possession. Sorba Thomas dey swing dangerous crosses from the right wing, but nobody fit convert. For the 21st minute, one cross nearly reach Cisse head.
The breakthrough finally come for the 33rd minute. Stoke break quick, Thomas cross low, the ball loose for Rak-Sakyi at the back post. The former Sheffield United player take one touch before e slot the ball past goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
Rak-Sakyi wey dey get stick from Sheffield Wednesday fans all through the match, just shrug towards dem as e celebrate. The goal na the difference wey separate both teams.
Sheffield Wednesday try small small. For the 32nd minute, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu almost make mistake with short pass, but e recover to save Jerry Yates chance. Svante Ingelsson wey Mike Pejic say fit improve Stoke midfield, get one free-kick wey hit the wall.
Stoke almost double their lead for the 40th minute when Rak-Sakyi hit the post after e twist and turn inside the box. Eric Bocat set am up again moments later, but poor touch spoil the chance.
For the 38th minute, Sheffield Wednesday defender Charlie McNeill almost score own goal when e head Seko cross over the bar. Steven Nzonzi head the resulting corner over.
The first half end with Stoke leading 1-0. The home team dey control about 67% of possession, with Sheffield Wednesday looking like team wey don already accept their fate.
Mark Robins make six changes to the Stoke lineup today, with Steven Nzonzi wear the captain armband. Junior Tchamadeu dey watch from stands with injury, join Maksym Talovierov, Ben Wilmot, Ato Ampah, Róbert Boženík and Viktor Johansson on unavailable list.
Sheffield Wednesday team wey already know say dem go finish bottom of Championship, play with nothing to lose. But dem no fit break through Stoke defence wey Ash Phillips, Bosun Lawal and Aaron Cresswell anchor well.
The match continue with Stoke maintaining their advantage. The home fans dey sing as their team move closer to another home win. Stoke don now go four matches unbeaten for their ground, score 10 goals for the process.
With another match coming up on Monday away to Derby County, this win na important one for Stoke confidence. Derby dey hope say dem fit enter play-offs, so Monday match go tough.
For Sheffield Wednesday, the season don already end in disappointment. Administration problems and point deductions don destroy their campaign. Dem go play League One football next season.
The final whistle blow with Stoke collect all three points. The players celebrate with fans as dem move up the Championship table. Rak-Sakyi goal don make am hero for the day, especially as former Sheffield United player wey score against their rivals.
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