Premier League - Stoke leapfrog Wigan

Eurosport - Sat, 16 May 19:22:00 2009

Stoke City leapfrogged Wigan in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory in an entertaining clash at the Britannia Stadium.

FOOTBALL Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller (left) celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game against Wigan Premier League - 0

Two strikes in the space of seven second half minutes proved enough to beat a valiant Latics outfit, who have now taken just one point from a possible 21.

Ricardo Fuller broke the deadlock after 69 minutes when he fired the ball past Wigan keeper Richard Kingson after the visitors failed to clear their lines.

James Beattie added what proved to be the decisive goal on 76 minutes with a close range header from a Matthew Etherington cross.

Fans of both sides had donned fancy dress for the occasion but Wigan almost spoiled the Stoke party when debutant Cho Won-Hee had the most significant effort of the opening period.

The midfielder's well-struck long range shot had Thomas Sorensen at full stretch in order to tip over the bar.

Cho, who impressed early on, caused further problems for the home side with his endeavour and industry and he had another effort from the resulting corner, but accuracy was lacking on this occasion.

Stoke had the ball in the back of the Wigan net in unusual circumstances after 34 minutes, but the 'goal' was ruled out by referee Lee Probert.

It was another of those Rory Delap long throws that flew straight into the top corner of the net with perhaps the merest of touches from Kingson but the whistle blew immediately for a foul on Abdoulaye Faye.

There were a flurry of opportunities for both sides just after the hour mark, the first of which fell to Stoke sub Danny Pugh, whose strike flew just over Kingson's crossbar from around 20 yards.

The visitors responded with an even closer effort barely a minute later when Manyero Figueroa flashed a shot inches wide of the Stoke goal.

The match was all over as a contest 15 minutes later when the double strike from the Stoke front pairing of Fuller and Beattie consigned Wigan to their third consecutive defeat and put the hosts into 11th in the table.

Sean Calvert / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. I think you will find that Stoke have just found their­ feet in the league. They cannot be written off by any­ team. They are tough and gritty and led by a clever­ manager. Fuller is a real handfull in the box and­ Beatty is a a perfect poacher. Steady as she goes next­ season

    From steveknapper, on Wed 20 May 6:57PM

  2. Classic case of 2nd season syndrome in waiting!
    Sorry­ but stoke better enjoy this because they are going down­ next season unless they change their style.
    Teams will­ be prepared for the aerial onslaught next­ season.
    You've been rumbled, no longer will you be­ the surprise package.
    Congrats on this season though -­ you certainly surprised me!

    From cameron w, on Tue 19 May 9:35PM

  3. Where can I see the Premier league table on this page?

    From David S, on Sun 17 May 7:59AM

  4. well done stoke just need more seats for more of us to­ get in next season?

    From chambers519, on Sat 16 May 9:32PM

  5. well done stoke just need more seats for more of us to­ get in next season?

    From chambers519, on Sat 16 May 9:30PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Tony Pullhiscock

    From Colin H, on Sat 16 May 9:29PM

  7. OMG,stoke!

    From Wan Firdaus?, on Sat 16 May 8:43PM

  8. Great effort Stoke and Tony Pulis I salute you, as a­ fellow Welshman living in the Potteries:)

    From Dean W, on Sat 16 May 7:57PM

  9. All I can say is thanks stoke to a job well done WE ARE­ SIMPLY THE BEST

    From chalkywilson, on Sat 16 May 7:54PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account