I wanted us to play our game and get the ball on the floor

Last updated : 11 March 2010 By Tony Scholes
Stoke boss Tony Pulis saw his side go in front from a Tuncay Sanli header before David Nugent headed home our equaliser. He said after the game: "This was a very good point for us against a team who really had the bit between their teeth tonight.

"It was a huge game for them, so for us to come here and play as well as we did I thought was smashing. The lads looked a bit tired after such an intense period, but I thought they did very well again. They never let the team down, no matter which players you put out there.

"It was obviously a blow to lose Ricardo Fuller in the build up to the game because he would have been a big player for us here. When you add him to the likes of Ryan Shawcross, Danny Higginbotham, Salif Diao and Glenn Whelan that is a big chunk of first team players missing.

"I was delighted to see Matty Etherington come through the full ninety minutes. We weren't sure if he would get through it all, but he did and that is a big boost for him and us. He is a hugely important player for us and we have got to be careful with him. It was fantastic to see him back out there again as he adds an extra dimension to our game."

"It's a good point although the first half wasn't what I was looking for at all," Burnley boss Brian Laws admitted.

"We know their strengths and they are organised, work hard and have a huge weapon. You know you are going to have to defend at least fourteen throw ins and the first one was the dreaded one.

"We worked on it in training, but the players got too excited and four of them went for one ball and got sucked out of the hole. It is always the second phase, so we showed them on the DVD at half time and tightened up and I thought we dealt with the aerial threat really well after that.

"More importantly, I told them to play the football which we know they are capable of. I was disappointed with three or four players because I thought we were a yard off the pace. We needed to get a grip of the game because we were the home side, not them.

"It was head tennis for 45 minutes, so I wanted us to play our game and get the ball on the floor. It doesn't matter how bobbly the surface is, it's no excuse not to pass the ball ten yards and we weren't doing that in the first half.

"I asked them 'do you believe you can win a game in the Premier League?' They all replied 'yes', so we asked them to move up a gear and prove it. That means you need to demand the ball and play positive football, looking forwards not backwards. That's what I saw and this could well be the turning point for us now.

"We can say that is the level and standard we want and what we all have to say is well done to the players. Great credit to them for not crumbling. What they did is stand two foot taller and they came in at the end as men.

"The goal was important because we really got on top then, and in the end, whilst it's a very good point, I believe three points were there for us. They will look at this as a good point, and as much as it was crucial we didn't lose it, I'm just a bit disappointed not to win it.

"But it certainly sets us up nicely for Saturday. I turned and saw Mick McCarthy smiling after that first half and I'm hoping my players wiped the smile off it in the second half because we played more as we can."