Stoke City Football Club News

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

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Pulis hails York following

03 Jan 2010 - 11:02:50

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Stoke City manager Tony Pulis paid tribute to the battling qualities of York City after they put up a fight before losing 3-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Potters recovered from an early setback to ensure they didn't become a giant-killing victim at the hands of the Minstermen.

Neil Barrett headed the Blue Square Premier League side into a shock lead, but there was to be no fairytale ending as their Premier League hosts were in front just three minutes later following an own goal and a header from Ricardo Fuller.

Matthew Etherington's second-half free-kick wrapped up the win for the home side, but Pulis admitted his players had been given a serious test.

"York's players are a credit to their club and the supporters," he said. "To bring nearly 5,000 here is absolutely fantastic.

"It's a real tribute to the FA Cup. I think we in the Premier League sometimes under-value it due to the money involved in the Premiership, but we're a very special country in having so many football clubs - both professionally and part-time.

"A small club like York - and I'm not being disrespectful - can bring so many people to watch them play at Stoke. That's fantastic really."