Source: Team_Talk
Pulis pleased by play-off draw
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is pleased Stoke will play the away leg first in their Europa League play-off game against FC Thun.[LNB] Stoke - who are taking part in major European competition for the first time in 37 years - are now just a two-legged play-off away from the Europa League group stages after completing a 2-0 aggregate win over Hadjuk Split on Thursday evening.[LNB]The Potters will travel to Switzerland for the first leg on August 18 before hosting the return match seven days later.[LNB]Giving his reaction, Pulis said: "I'm obviously pleased with the draw, in respect to having the second leg at the Britannia Stadium.[LNB]"It's good for us to travel away first so we can get them back to our place and have the full backing of the Britannia Stadium, which I feel is crucial.[LNB]"As with a lot of teams in the competition, we don't know much about them but I am sure they will say the same about us.[LNB]"No game in Europe is easy, so we will make sure we are fully prepared for this tie."[LNB]Stoke ensured their progress into the play-off round with a controlled performance in a 1-0 win in Split, and Pulis was delighted to see his decision to start Jonathan Woodgate pay off.[LNB]"I thought he and Ryan, the two centre-halves, were absolutely fantastic," Pulis said.[LNB]"I don't think they put a foot wrong. The game was picked (for Woodgate) because we knew we would need experience.[LNB]"That was also why we brought Salif Diao on for the last quarter of an hour, because he has played in this type of atmosphere as well.[LNB]"As the game went on they were throwing caution to the wind and pushing players forward, and when Salif came on he steadied the game and there was more space.[LNB]"Those players helped us enormously."[LNB]Woodgate's previous competitive start was for Tottenham in November 2009 and prior to Thursday night, the injury-plagued player had made just four appearances in two years.[LNB]Following his release by Spurs this summer, the 31-year-old was offered a chance to resurrect his career with a pay-as-you-play contract at Stoke and Pulis is confident that if Woodgate keeps up his fitness levels, he can excel with the Potters.[LNB]"We are hoping he will get better and better," Pulis added.[LNB]"I think if he plays the games, we will see that we have taken a real, real player."[LNB]Woodgate was delighted to make his bow for his new club and is grateful for the belief Pulis has shown in him.[LNB]"That's my first 90 minutes for 18 months, so let's see how I feel," Woodgate told the club's official website.[LNB]"But I enjoyed the game and felt good. It's a tough place to come, but all the lads did fantastically well in those circumstances."[LNB]He added: "I had a few options in the summer, but Tony Pulis was very keen to bring me here.[LNB]"When someone is that keen and they really believe in you, then that's what you want, so I signed and I feel it's the right decision.[LNB]"This club has come so far in a very short space of time and this performance proves that we are a good team.[LNB]"It's only a few seasons ago that the club were playing in the Championship, yet here we are winning at a top club in Europe.[LNB]"It's a big achievement and it gives the lads great confidence going into the new season."
