We have a lot of quality in the team

Last updated : 07 September 2003 By Tony Scholes

Stoke got off to a winning start this season and won their first two games to go top of the league but there have been no wins since and just a couple of points now in the last four games.

That has not satisfied manager Tony Pulis and he was not happy with the first half performance from his side yesterday.

"We made a very poor start, it was very disappointing stuff," said Pulis. "But that’s the way it can be sometimes, people should not lose sight of the fact that this is a season of change here and changes take time to work.

"We have a very young team and consistency can be difficult to achieve in those circumstances, which is why we still need one or two more older , experienced heads in there."

Pulis added, "This is a test of character for our players now, they have got to bounce back quickly from this and it is going to be interesting to see how our younger lads react."

Pulis then spoke of the incident that saw his team reduced to ten men with a not well disguised, and appalling accusation aimed at David May. "I am not happy with the sending off decision and I will certainly be viewing the video.

"If I find that Carl did catch him with his elbow then I will fine him. If he hasn’t then we will support him all the way and that will also throw up the question of what happens to players who may have effectively deceived the referee."

No doubt Pulis must have missed the next passage of play when the Clarets, like Stoke had to play with ten men as David May, the player he is throwing his accusations at, was receiving extensive treatment from physio Ian Liversedge.

I think it is fair to say that the happy Stan Ternent we saw making his way down the touchline was just as pleased with the result and performance as those Clarets in the away end that he was applauding.

"I thought he played well," said Stan after the win. "The shape and balance, the ball retention and the fluidity were all good. We passed the ball well and on a magnificent pitch like that you cannot resist passing it.

"It was a good team performance and they all played to their potential and we deserved to win the match."

He went on to single out players for special praise starting with his new central defensive partnership, "I though David May and Andy Todd were magnificent at the back, Mo and Westy alongside them did well. Branchy, Chaddy and Delroy did well too and with a little bit of luck we could have scored more but if we keep creating chances the goals will come.

"We have a lot of quality in the team and with McGregor, Ian Moore and Weller all coming back we are definitely looking stronger. The only problem is Farrelly, he heard something go and we are going to get him an xray."

We will leave the last word to a Stoke fan though who rather than criticise his own side was able to see that they were beaten by a better side on the day.

"The plain and simple truth is Burnley were far superior to us in every department. Their midfield was superb and that set out the tactics for the game. Yes, we did hoof the ball forward all the time but that was because we couldn't play through midfield because they controlled it."