FA Cup finalists Stoke’s fine run of form continued on Tuesday as they dealt a huge blow to Wolves prospects of staying in the Premier League with a 3-0 win. Goals by Trinidadian international Kenwyne Jones, Ryan Shawcross and the outstanding Jermaine Pennant easily saw off a woeful Wolves side, who are second from bottom a point adrift of safety with four matches remaining. The hosts took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark as Jones headed home from a great cross by Pennant, who had beaten a couple of weak challenges down the right flank. Jones, a record signing for Stoke last August for £8million, wasted a better chance eight minutes later as Shawcross found him with a brilliant long pass but unmolested he shot well wide with just goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to beat.
Stoke, though, suffered a potential hammerblow in terms of their FA Cup final hopes when winger Matthew Etherington – man of the match in their semi-final demolition of Bolton – had to go off after suffering what looked like a hamstring injury on the half hour mark.
