Wolves are a side that don't usually tend to hold back when it comes to the physical side of the game, with Mick McCarthy's men more than happy to fling themselves into a few challenges here and there over the course of a game. However, it would seem that last night they met their match in the form of a resolute Stoke team that managed to thrash their opponents 3-0 at home.
A goal from Kenwyne Jones shortly after the quarter of an hour mark set Stoke up for a deserved victory, and Ryan Shawcross made their lead slightly more comfortable just before the half-time break. With Jermaine Pennant grabbing Stoke's third with a goal that lit up LCD televisions everywhere after some shocking defending from Wolves, it was a pretty good night for a team starting to prove its attacking credentials despite still attracting criticism for being overly physical.
Unfortunately for Stoke manager Tony Pulis, McCarthy decided to focus on this physical side to the hosts, rather than the manner in which their at times attractive football carved open a pitiful Wolves defence. With the Wolves manager stating that his team were "bullied" by Stoke before turning on his defenders, it is a shame that he didn't offer some praise of a team that can't seem to stop scoring recently.
The three points for Stoke, meanwhile, lifted their points tally up to 42, so their Premier League safety is now almost guaranteed no matter what happens over the remaining games this season. With the FA Cup final also nearly upon them (and that's certainly one worth setting your DVD recorder for), it's looking like a bright couple of months in store for the loyal Stoke faithful.
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