Stoke 3 Wolves 0:Stoke surely secured their Premier League status for a fourth successive season with an emphatic victory over relegation battlers Wolves at the Britannia Stadium.
It is a fine time for Tony Pulis’s side, who also have an FA Cup final at Wembley to look forward to for the first time on May 14th against Manchester City.
Kenwyne Jones opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Ryan Shawcross extended their lead on the stroke of half-time and Jermaine Pennant added a third in the 51st minute leaving Wolves rooted in the bottom three after their 13th defeat in 17 away league games.
Once Stoke made the breakthrough they never looked back against their local rivals.
Jones headed in his 11th goal of the season following a cross from Pennant after getting between Richard Stearman and Jody Craddock.
Although goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey got a hand to the ball he could not prevent it going into the net.
Stoke maintained the momentum and three minutes later Hennessey did well to turn away a shot from Andy Wilkinson after he had been released by Pennant.
Stoke were in the driving seat but suffered a blow in the 28th minute when Matthew Etherington pulled up sharply clutching his hamstring.
The winger, such an influential figure in the side, was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Dean Whitehead.
Four minutes later Jones should have extended their lead but headed over from close range after good work by Jonathan Walters.
Stoke pushed forward again in the 39th minute and Marc Wilson tried to pick out Walters only for Hennessey to intercept and make the clearance.
Then hard-pressed Hennessey tipped over a header from Shawcross before the skipper added a second on the stroke of half-time.
Glenn Whelan rattled in a shot that was deflected by Stoke midfielder Karl Henry into the path of Shawcross, who only needed to nudge the ball over the line.
Stoke were not content to sit on their lead and Walters skipped away from Stearman in the 48th minute only to drag his effort wide of the post.
However Wolves suffered another blow three minutes later when the home side made it 3-0 following good work by Jones and Walters.
