By Ollie Irish

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A giant screen displays a message to the fans explaining Tony Pulis' absence - he did appear for the second half

Photos: PA

With Tony Pulis grieving for the loss of his mother, this was a rare occasion when the neutral rooted for Stoke. Pulis showed up at half-time and made the difference. He gave a team talk that “took the paint off the walls”, according to Stoke assistant manager Dave Kemp.

In a cracking finish to a pulsating match, Villa’s 1-0 lead was overturned through Kenwyne Jones’s 80th-minute header and Robert Huth’s injury-time winner from close range.

After the match, Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald was typically gracious despite the galling nature of the defeat: “I feel very sad for Tony but he is a wonderful man. I don’t think it would have changed the way his team played.”

Well played, Kevin. You are a man of dignity. And respect to Pulis for manning up in difficult circumstances.

Tags: Aston Villa, stoke city, tony pulis
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