Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen deflects credit after Stoke's Carling Cup win over Tottenham
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was keen to focus on the efforts of his team-mates after his penalty shoot-out save secured victory for the Potters over Tottenham and a place in the Carling Cup fourth round.[LNB] Tuesday night's third-round tie at the Britannia Stadium had finished 0-0 after extra-time, with Sorensen palming a powerful strike by Roman Pavlyuchenko over the bar in the 53rdminute and substitute Jon Walters unable to convert a one-on-one chancefor the hosts in the additional half-hour.[LNB] Paying the penalty: Sorensen saves Tottenham's last spot-kick[LNB] The Denmark stopper then proved to be Stoke's hero, pushing away young Spurs debutant Massimo Luongo's spot-kick to seal a 7-6 triumph in the shoot-out - although Sorensen stressed that he did not deserve to take all the credit. [LNB]'It's nice to get the plaudits for the save, but it was the other lads who stepped up and put the ball into the back of the net,' Sorensen told www.stokecityfc.com. [LNB]'They had the real pressure, because as outfield players you are expected to score.[LNB] Potters pride: Sorensen is congratulated by Matthew Upson (left) and Ryan Shotton[LNB]'For me to make that save was nice and I'm just delighted that we won the game.[LNB]'We played nearly two-and-a-half hours of football and we never really looked in danger of losing the game at any point in my opinion. [LNB]'We had chances in the first half and in the second half. Jon was unlucky in extra-time when it just rolled the wrong side of the post, but we got there in the end. [LNB]'We had to persevere, but we are in that draw and that's all that matters now.' [LNB]Both teams were playing their third game in six days due to their Europa League exploits and the draining experience of a 120-minute match followed by penalties was the last thing either manager wanted. [LNB] It was a scenario Potters boss Tony Pulis was sure Sir Alex Ferguson - who brings his Manchester United side to the Britannia Stadium for Saturday's early evening Barclays Premier League kick-off - will have been delighted with, and the Welshman has called upon Stoke's fans to back their side to the hilt at the weekend. [LNB]'Sir Alex will be rubbing his hands,' Pulis said. 'The only thing I will say is how good our 15,000 supporters were and I hope 28,000 will turn up on Saturday because we really, really need them to get behind the lads.'[LNB] Saturday is also when the draw for the last 16 will be made and Pulis is hoping to land another home tie as the Potters look to return to Wembley after last season's FA Cup semi-final and final appearances there. [LNB]'We'll take anyone at home, anybody at the Brit,' he said. 'It's the last 16 now, so it gives us a chance again.' [LNB]Although the defeat has eased Tottenham's hectic schedule, their manager Harry Redknapp was adamant he took no pleasure in losing. [LNB]'You don't want to lose any game, I don't care what game you play,' Redknapp said. [LNB]'If I wanted to lose I'd have played the youth team.[LNB]'We came here to win and we wanted to stay in the competition - we wanted to go to Wembley.'[LNB] Stoke 0 Tottenham 0 (AET, 7-6 on pens): Potters through after shootout dramaSunderland 4 Stoke 0: Black Cats purr as Potters suffer European hangoverI wanted Woody to stay: Redknapp set for defender reunion in Carling Cup clashAll the latest Stoke City FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]
