Stoke City Football Club News

• Nickname:Potters
• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Pulis defends Fuller decision

08 Dec 2008 - 11:30:56

Click To Enlarge

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has admitted he feels vindicated in his decision to drop Ricardo Fuller to the bench for Saturday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.

The Jamaica striker set up the Potters' first goal in their dramatic comeback at St James' Park after being sent on as a second-half substitute.

Pulis had been questioned for leaving his six-goal leading scorer on the bench, but the City chief is hoping to keep the powerful frontman fresh after a recent glut of games.

"I think three games a week for Ric is not the best," he told The Sentinel. "Since he came back from Jamaica, I don't think Ric has been right on his front foot.

"I wanted to work their back four and Richard Cresswell and Mama Sidibe worked their socks off.

"If we kept it tight, the longer the game wore on the bigger the spaces would be for Ric when he came on.

"When the game is stretched, Ric is at his best. He was always going to come on."