FC Thun 0 Stoke City 1: Danny Pugh sets Potters on course in play-off

19 August 2011 08:26
Stoke boss Tony Pulis tried to play down an apparent spat between his players and FC Thun's manager after last night's Europa League play-off in Switzerland.[LNB]Thun boss Bernard Challandes was said to have make a beeline for Stoke's players as they walked down the tunnel after a 1-0 victory.[LNB]Challandes was furious with what he saw as Stoke's meaty challenges and their time-wasting towards the end of the first leg.[LNB] Danny boy: Pugh (second left) and Ryan Shawcross (second right) celebrate Stoke's strike[LNB] [LNB] MATCH FACTSSTOKE (4-4-2): Sorensen 7; Huth 6 (Wilkinson 50min, 7), Shawcross 7, Upson 8, Wilson 7; Pugh 8, Whitehead 7, Tonge 7, Etherington 6 (Arismendi 74, 7); Jones 6 (Whelan 66, 7); Walters 7. Subs not used: Nash, Collins, Soares, Shotton.[LNB]Man of the match: Danny Pugh.[LNB]Referee: Daniel Stalhammar (Sweden)  [LNB]A security guard said Challandes was kicking water bottles, punching the wall and screaming at Stoke players,adding that one player, described as big and blond, responded by squaring up to Challandes, but the pair were swiftly parted.[LNB]Challandes declined to take questions, and Pulis said he was well away from any scuffling. [LNB]'I heard some screaming,' said Pulis,'but it was down the tunnel and so I don't know what went on. The lads were doing the usual stuff after the game and just getting straight off because they have another game to prepare for at Norwich on Sunday.'[LNB]Plenty to shout about: Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen (centre) and Thun's Nicolas Schindelholz (left)[LNB] [LNB] Tough tackling: Thun's Stephan Andrist (left) and Stoke's Dean Whitehead (right)[LNB] [LNB] Earlier Danny Pugh had scored the only goal with a 20-yard drive in the 19th minute, as Stoke, backed by close to 1,000 away fans, triumphed on a plastic pitch.[LNB]Catch me if you can: Whitehead (left) chases Thun striker Dario Lezcano[LNB] [LNB] The hosts' goalkeeper David da Costa was sent off towards the end for bundling over Jon Walters.[LNB]Pugh's opener did not make it easy for the visitors as Thun piled on the pressure and after clearances by Huth and Ryan Shawcross, Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen tipped a Thomas Reinmann free-kick round his post. [LNB] [LNB]Clash of heads: Schindelholz (right) challenges Kenwyne Jones (left) in the air[LNB] [LNB] On the run: Stephan Andrist (right) attempts to get past Matthew Etherington (left) [LNB] [LNB]The home side continued to press for an equaliser after the break with Reinmann hitting a right-footed shot over the bar before Shawcross got in the way of an effort by Roland Battig.[LNB] As the game wore on Stoke's fitnessbegan to tell with Matthew Etherington shooting over the bar then bringing a fine save out of Da Coats, who punched clear. [LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEEUROPA LEAGUE LIVE: Follow action from the play-offs as it happenedStoke boss Pulis insists that Shawcross is 'not for sale' as Liverpool show interestAll the latest Stoke City FC news, features and opinion[LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail