Potters assistant hails Pulis bravery

14 September 2010 06:36
Stoke assistant manager Dave Kemp paid tribute to boss Tony Pulis after he put aside his grief to help City claim a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.[LNB] Pulis travelled back from Newport after spending the day with family following the death of his mother earlier in the day and arrived just after kick-off.[LNB]However, he did not take his place on the touchline until the second half, when his side were already losing, but witnessed a character-filled comeback with an injury-time winner from Robert Huth.[LNB]"I knew he was going to get here at some time but I didn't know when because he travelled up from south Wales," said Kemp.[LNB]"But I knew during the first half he was here because he was phoning down to the bench.[LNB]"He has obviously had a very sad day but typically for him he wanted to get straight into it, put his overalls on and get on with his work.[LNB]"That is why he has been a great manager for this football club. He is desperate, with all else he has got going on, to have an impact.[LNB]"His appearance gave the players and the fans a boost and I think you saw that."[LNB]Kemp said that despite Pulis' personal tragedy he did not hold back in his criticism of the players during the interval.[LNB]"He was in the dressing room for the half-time team-talk and he took the paint off the walls," he added.[LNB]"The result's not going to change what has happened to him today but hopefully it will give him a boost that the team is up and running and got three points."[LNB]Huth deflected home Matt Etherington's shot in the third minute of injury time to snatch a first victory of the season.[LNB]Stewart Downing's 35th-minute diving header had put Villa ahead but £8million club-record signing Kenwyne Jones equalised with 10 minutes to go of his home debut.[LNB]And there was even later drama as Huth capitalised on a scramble in the penalty area from substitute Jermaine Pennant's free-kick.[LNB]Etherington claimed the appearance of Pulis on the sidelines inspired the players.[LNB]"Obviously he wasn't happy at half-time, he was very disappointed about what was happening," he told Sky Sports.[LNB]""He had thought it would be too much to be with us but after the first half and the way we played he came in.[LNB]"They were on top and he wasn't happy, so he came in and I think we were better in the second half."[LNB]Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin Macdonald also paid tribute to Pulis' strength of character.[LNB]"I feel very sad for Tony but he is a wonderful man. I don't think it would have changed the way his team played," he said.[LNB]"I think the way they acknowledge how good he is to them showed in the first half as well."[LNB]On the result he added: "We're very disappointed in the result but we know that happens in football."

Source: Team_Talk