Stoke City 5 Cambridge 0

Gudjon Thordarson claimed saturdays result at Bournemouth was totally unacceptable - cancelled all leave and had the players 'Back to basics' on the training ground in the build up to this match.

This approach seemed to work as relegation candidates Cambridge hardly saw the ball and Stoke, although they weren't as good as they have been so far this season, showed the 9,200 crowd that they could do a job.

Stoke needed the win to keep pressure up on the top two. Brighton still have 2 games in hand, Bristol City have 1, and 3 points last night was vital. Stoke got off to a flying start. A 4-3-3 formation with only one thing on its mind, attack.



Cooke started the scoring spree after 22 minutes which had been full of Stoke attack. A Thomas ball in enabled Cooke to beat the keeper to score the first of the night.

The 9200 crowd didn't have to wait long for a 2nd goal. Cooke turning provider as his shot was parried out by the keeper, only to see Bjarni Gudjonson follow up, smashing it into the net from 12 yards.

The first half ended 2-0 to the potters. The second half saw the introduction of Stefan Thordarson, replacing Chris Iwelumo, who had played well. Thordarson was there to nod home a Gudjonson corner kick in the 63rd minute to his delight, and the delight of the fans.

At 3-0 up, you began to think that Stoke were going to finish the job. It was beyond reach of the visitors, but no-one could have predicted 5-0.

Bjarni Gudjonson got down the right wing and crossed, it was just behind Cookey so 19 year old Cambridge defender Adam Tann helped him out with a lovely top-right corner effort. 4-0

Karl Henry had only been on the pitch for some 20-25 minutes when he burst forward past the defender to the byline, turned back in, then turned back towards the byline,  leaving the defender franticly trying to get to the ball on his hands and knees before chipping nicely into the path of Goodfellow, who headed home with a strong header.

It was imperative that Stoke picked up the 3 points and they did their job well. The potteries derby awaits on Sunday - A boring draw? Or will one of the two sides take the 3 points? Be there to watch it - or miss out.