Stoke ease past Wednesday

Stoke cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday to extend their unbeaten home run to five matches.

Goals either side of half-time from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Lamine Cisse ensured Stoke secured their first league double over Wednesday since 1970.

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Mid-table Stoke carried the early threat, with Cisse steering a shot wide after racing onto Rak-Sakyi's inviting pass.

A poignant pause followed in the eighth minute as all four stands rose to applaud young Stoke fan Oliver Royles, who tragically died at the age of eight last month after a battle with cancer.

Wednesday, backed by more than 3,200 travelling supporters, set up to be compact and hard to break down. But while they were organised out of possession, Henrik Pedersen's side struggled to offer any real spark in the final third as Stoke controlled both territory and the ball.

Centre‑back Bosun Lawal strode forward purposefully midway through the half only to see his speculative effort whistle narrowly wide.

Gavin Bazunu was called into action just after the half-hour mark, reacting sharply to keep out Charlie McNeill's header. Moments later, Stoke took the lead after a quick counter attack.

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Sorba Thomas delivered his 12th assist of an impressive campaign, whipping a pinpoint cross from the right to the back post where Rak‑Sakyi kept his composure to guide a left‑footed finish past Pierce Charles.

Captain Steven Nzonzi then rose unchallenged to head over from another Thomas corner before Rak‑Sakyi went close again. His rasping drive, after a jinking run inside the box, was brilliantly tipped onto a post by Charles as Stoke pushed hard for a second before the interval.

Thomas continued to be a thorn in Wednesday's side after the break. One of his long throws caused chaos in the six-yard box, bouncing awkwardly and forcing Northern Ireland international Charles to punch clear for a corner.

Nzonzi ought to have made it 2-0 after more good wing play from Thomas but he fired straight at Charles with the goal at his mercy.

Stoke's pressure finally told in the 57th minute when Cisse doubled their advantage, tappiing home from close range after Charles could only parry Eric Bocat's powerful header.

A third should have followed soon after when substitute Bae Jun-ho blazed over after an exquisite pass from Bocat.

Yet, to their credit, Wednesday refused to fold. They kept pushing, driven on by their vociferous away support, and almost found a route back into the contest, with Bazunu spreading himself well to deny Olaf Kobacki from a tight angle.

Charles rushed off his line to prevent Bocat from getting on the scoresheet deep into stoppage time as Wednesday suffered their 30th Championship defeat of the season.

The managers

Stoke's Mark Robins:

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Sheffield Wednesday's Henrik Pedersen:

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