Danny Pugh settles it for the Potters

Posted Friday, August 19, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Danny Pugh settles it for the Potters
Above: Matchwinner: Danny Pugh

DANNY PUGH’s terrific first-half goal settled a bad-tempered affair which erupted in the very last minute.

Thun keeper David Da Costa got a 90th-minute red card for dragging down Jonathan Walters outside the area when he was clean through on goal.

The Swiss league leaders didn’t have a keeper on the bench – and so midfielder Stephan Andrist went in and made a fantastic stoppage-time save to deny Walters.

But furious Thun boss Bernard Challandes had to be restrained at the end as he vented his anger, while Stoke manager Tony Pulis steered his players clear of Challandes in the tunnel afterwards.

Pulis played down the incident, saying: “I didn’t see anything. I heard a scream but I don’t know what it was. I was miles away.”

Challandes said: “Let’s just say I don’t think we got a fair proportion of the decisions.” Stoke wiped away a lot of potential problems when they took a 19th-minute lead.

A cross from Walters was moved on by Kenwyne Jones, and Pugh rifled home a left-foot shot from 25 yards.

Pulis had to take Robert Huth off five minutes before the break, with the defender in danger of getting sent off.

Huth, already booked for a tackle on Dario Lezcano, nearly sliced a Benjamin Luthi centre into his own net before flying into another crunching challenge as half-time approached.

Shawcross was lucky to survive a strong penalty claim when he appeared to barge Thomas Reinmann to the ground on the edge of the six-yard box in the 57th minute.

But Stoke deserved their win, with keeper Thomas Sorensen rarely troubled.