Lewis Baker proved what an incredible goal scorer he is by scoring twice. His display helped Stoke City to a comprehensive win and moved them to second place in the Sky Bet Championship. The exhibition match was held at the Kassam Stadium, the home ground of Stoke’s opponents on the day, Oxford United. Baker’s performance highlighted his skill and solidified Stoke’s position as a contender in the league.
Baker scored the first goal of the game in the 10th minute, giving Stoke a 1-0 lead in the opening stages of the match. After a clearance from a long Will Vaulks throw, Stoke were able to break quickly. Baker had himself nicely set up to finish the transfer. That opened the floodgates and set the tone for the rest of the game. He made his mark right from the outset and exerted his influence for the remainder of the half.
A Dynamic Performance
Lewis Baker’s second goal deepened Stoke’s control. After a swift counter attack down the right wing, Baker scored once more. This objective decisively put to rest any uncertainty about the match’s end result, as Baker rose to the occasion and came through when it mattered most.
In addition to his two goals, Baker contributed to his team’s overall success by providing a right-wing corner that led to Steven Nzonzi’s goal. This multifaceted performance demonstrated Baker’s versatility and importance to Mark Robins’ squad. Baker is on fire yo — this new Baker form! He’s bagged a whopping eight goals in just two games with Stoke, led by a first-half hat trick in their 5-1 hammering of Bristol City.
Praise from the Coach
Mark Robins, Stoke’s manager, paid tribute to Baker upon his departure from the club, highlighting his impact on the Potters. Baker was the embodiment of what Halligan preached about keeping things simple and making fast decisions in the heat of the game.
“We didn’t try and overdo things – once or twice we did and had one or two touches too many – but the aspects of the performances I like are when we do things simply and when we do things in and out of possession really quickly.” – Mark Robins
Robins identified Baker’s potential and called him a top player, saying he can score goals for fun. This accolade further highlights Baker’s importance to Stoke’s chances of gaining success in the Championship this campaign.
Looking Ahead
Stoke City are hoping to keep rising up the table as they look for promotion to the Championship. And with quickly Lewis Baker still leading that charge, I’d say they’re set up well for the long haul. Their performances over the last two seasons prove that they are at least able to compete, but even more so, flourishing in a difficult league.
The range of Baker’s impact goes far beyond personal accolades. He provides an enormous boost to the team’s morale and confidence. As Stoke looks forward to their future fixtures and beyond, they’re sure to depend on Baker’s prowess and captaincy on the field.
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