Stoke 3-1 Walsall: Match Report

28 August 2013 22:32
Stoke 3-1 Walsall: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Jones hat-trick sinks Saddlers

Kenwyne Jones netted a hat-trick as Stoke saw off Sky Bet League One side Walsall 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium to advance into the third round of the Capital One Cup.


The Potters took the lead in the 22nd minute when the visitors squandered possession and Jones made the most of the opportunity, cutting inside and firing home.


It was his first goal since January, and the Trinidad and Tobago striker took only nine minutes to add another, rifling into the net from close range after the ball had dropped at his feet from a corner.


It was all fairly comfortable for the Potters, but Walsall did show some signs of promise in the first half.


And after Charlie Adam had been denied by the leg of Saddlers goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell early in the second period, the visitors got themselves back in the game through Ashley Hemmings' 57th-minute strike.


Stoke subsequently regained control of the contest, with both Andy Wilkinson and Robert Huth putting the ball in the net but having their efforts ruled out for offside.


And Jones then completed his treble in the 84th minute, racing on to a through-ball and finishing coolly.


It means Potters boss Mark Hughes has a record of two wins from two home games so far since taking charge of Stoke this summer, achieved four days apart.


Prior to that, the last win he had overseen was in August 2012 when he was manager of QPR and they won 3-0, also at home in the second round of the Capital One Cup - against Walsall.


Source: PA