TP pleased by play-off draw

Last updated : 05 August 2011 By Team Talk

 

 

 

 

Stoke - who are taking part in major European competition for the first time in 37 years - are now just a two-legged play-off away from the Europa League group stages after completing a 2-0 aggregate win over Hadjuk Split on Thursday evening.

The Potters will travel to Switzerland for the first leg on August 18 before hosting the return match seven days later.

Giving his reaction, Pulis said: "I'm obviously pleased with the draw, in respect to having the second leg at the Britannia Stadium.

"It's good for us to travel away first so we can get them back to our place and have the full backing of the Britannia Stadium, which I feel is crucial.

"As with a lot of teams in the competition, we don't know much about them but I am sure they will say the same about us.

"No game in Europe is easy, so we will make sure we are fully prepared for this tie."

Stoke ensured their progress into the play-off round with a controlled performance in a 1-0 win in Split, and Pulis was delighted to see his decision to start Jonathan Woodgate pay off.

"I thought he and Ryan, the two centre-halves, were absolutely fantastic," Pulis said.

"I don't think they put a foot wrong. The game was picked (for Woodgate) because we knew we would need experience.

"That was also why we brought Salif Diao on for the last quarter of an hour, because he has played in this type of atmosphere as well.

"As the game went on they were throwing caution to the wind and pushing players forward, and when Salif came on he steadied the game and there was more space.

"Those players helped us enormously."

Woodgate's previous competitive start was for Tottenham in November 2009 and prior to Thursday night, the injury-plagued player had made just four appearances in two years.

Following his release by Spurs this summer, the 31-year-old was offered a chance to resurrect his career with a pay-as-you-play contract at Stoke and Pulis is confident that if Woodgate keeps up his fitness levels, he can excel with the Potters.

"We are hoping he will get better and better," Pulis added.

"I think if he plays the games, we will see that we have taken a real, real player."

Woodgate was delighted to make his bow for his new club and is grateful for the belief Pulis has shown in him.

"That's my first 90 minutes for 18 months, so let's see how I feel," Woodgate told the club's official website.

"But I enjoyed the game and felt good. It's a tough place to come, but all the lads did fantastically well in those circumstances."

He added: "I had a few options in the summer, but Tony Pulis was very keen to bring me here.

"When someone is that keen and they really believe in you, then that's what you want, so I signed and I feel it's the right decision.

"This club has come so far in a very short space of time and this performance proves that we are a good team.

"It's only a few seasons ago that the club were playing in the Championship, yet here we are winning at a top club in Europe.

"It's a big achievement and it gives the lads great confidence going into the new season."

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk