Croatian Press complaining of anti football on our part. Hypocritical of them that is considering their players clattered our lads every chance they got.
Fantastic result and it sounds like TP got itvright with what he has to play with! I think we all know that this was test we should have passed but nether the less a result is a result - fantastic! Hopefully this is the result that will entice a couple of quality players to our club?
QPR fan in peace: Well done Stoke City. Good luck in Europe - I hope you surprise some of the big teams
http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10310~2410599,00.html? TONY PULIS savoured another 'first' in Stoke City's remarkable success story after they qualified for the play-off stage of the Europa League with their triumph in Croatia. Pulis' side not only successfully shut out a Hajduk Split side with an excellent European pedigree, but they also snatched an injury-time goal to put the issues beyond any doubt. Substitute Ryan Shotton's goal was the icing on the cake of an excellent performance which means City go into Friday's draw for the play-off stage of the Europa League. "This is the first time this club has played in a European tie and won through, so it's another new bridge which we have crossed," said Pulis after the win in the Poljud Stadium. "That's three fantastic achievements in a short space of time. We got into the Premier League, then we reached a first FA Cup Final and now this progress in a European tie. "I'm immensely proud for everyone concerned, but especially so for the Chairman and his family. They have come over with us and I am sure it is one happy family." Pulis admitted that he went into the intimidating atmosphere at the Poljud Stadium hopeful that his side could withstand the tough test that Hajduk Split would present as they endeavoured to defend the slender lead given them by Jon Walters at the Britannia Stadium. "We were quietly confident," he admitted. "The first game came only three weeks into our pre-season, so we tired in the second half, but even then we had chances. "I felt that if we played our game the way we know we can and the lads put in the effort and commitment, then we'd have as good a chance as ever to progress. "They are a famous club with fantastic support, but the lads stuck to their task magnificently and they deserved to get the reward of a first win on European soil." Not surprisingly, England defender Jonathan Woodgate was the focus of much attention after an impressive debut following his arrival at the Britannia Stadium last month. "I decided a week ago that Jonathan would play in this game," revealed Pulis. "I thought it was the right stage for him because of his experience at this sort of level. "I thought he and Ryan Shawcross were absolutely fantastic. They never put a foot wrong all game and I am sure Jonathan will get better and better with games." Pulis had one final word for City's supporters, saying: "I hope they all get home safe and well because that will cap what has been a fantastic night for this Club."
Only got this off Wiki so might not be 100% true. They claim these are the unseeded teams we could possibly draw tomorrow: Unseeded teams Young Boys Nacional Hannover 96 Sochaux Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk Bursaspor Trabzonspor Vitória Guimarães Helsingborg Karpaty Lviv CSKA Sofia Vorskla Poltava Vaslui Sion Red Star Belgrade Alania Vladikavkaz Litex Lovech Hearts Nordsjælland Olympiakos Volou Omonia Maccabi Tel Aviv Slovan Bratislava Legia Warsaw Gaz Metan Mediaş Thun Maribor Ried Rabotnički Aalesund HJK Helsinki AEK Larnaca Ekranas Spartak Trnava Dinamo Tbilisi Śląsk Wrocław Zestafoni Shamrock Rovers
