Filed under: Bolton, Manchester City, Stoke City, FA Cup, Premier League, Football
There was a delicious irony about Stoke's romp over Bolton and one that will not have escaped the attention of Tony Pulis.Nearly three years ago Pulis took his newly promoted team to the Reebok Stadium for their Premier League bow and all involved had to lick their wounds after a punishing 3-1 defeat.
It was a rude welcome to this most unforgiving of divisions but it was the furore afterwards that stuck in the mind, with bookmakers Paddy Power swiftly paying out on Stoke's relegation.
Such a blatant publicity stunt clearly upset Pulis, despite his attempts to brush it under the carpet, but it has acted as the catalyst for his club taking the art of putting noses out of joint to a high level ever since. It also ended up costing Paddy Power £30,000.
Stoke have been written off ever since returning to the big time. One-dimensional, overly dependent on set plays and Rory Delap's exocet missile throw-ins and a squad of flat-track bullies.
Even if they aren't being written off, Pulis makes sure his players think they are. At Wembley on Sunday, the TV pundits on ESPN were falling over themselves to back Bolton.
Robbie Savage was the lone voice backing Stoke to cause an "upset", but you got the nagging feeling he was only doing it to be different.
Well, after 90 minutes of football that will forever be etched in the memories of the Stoke fans who threatened to take off the new Wembley roof, few would now back against them bruising Manchester City's fragile egos and lifting the FA Cup for the first time in their lengthy but far from illustrious history.
This was manna from heaven for anyone of a Potters persuasion. The only problem for Pulis - if it can be called a problem - is that the critics will have had to grudgingly admit this was nothing like the stereotypical Stoke.
It could not have been further removed from the reputation that has stuck to them like the finest industrial superglue.
All of the five goals came from open play, with Matthew Etherington's early stunner and Kenwyne Jones' beautifully constructed strike worthy of the grandest arenas in football.
There were no yellow cards for the so-called streetfighters from Staffordshire. And there was an effervescence to their play that only heightened Bolton's stagefright.
With their two wingers Etherington and Jermaine Pennant proving so influential, Stanley Matthews would have been watching upstairs with admiration.
Pulis deserved his moment of triumph. Despite his long career in management, there has been nothing truly tangible to show for his efforts, despite a couple of promotions.
He has never been relegated but also never won any silverware. He only needs look at Birmingham's Carling Cup triumph over Arsenal for inspiration. This could be the year of the underdog, and Stoke's record against Roberto Mancini has been impressive.
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