Pulis wants home comfort

Pulis relies on squad men to re-write his cup history

By Pete Oliver   Last updated: 27th August 2008

Tony Pulis

Pulis: Change of luck

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Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is hoping for a home draw in the third round of the Carling Cup in a bid to improve his dismal record in the competition.

Stoke's 3-2 win at Cheltenham Town earned Pulis a place in the last 32 of the competition for only the second time in his managerial career.

He said: "The Carling Cup is a competition that excites you, the further you go in it, and we will keep our fingers crossed that we are rewarded now with a home fixture in the next round.

"I've got a very poor record in this competition. I think I've got through once to the round we are through to now, the third round, in 15 years so it has not been very good to me."

Action

Pulis made 10 changes to the side that beat Aston Villa last Saturday for Tuesday night's success and may well do something similar for the next round with the fourth-round tie scheduled to fall between league fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool.

"I was just pleased that, at Cheltenham, players were able to get some action under their belts," he added.

"They are not second-string players as some people like to call them because the whole squad is very important this year to Stoke City and many of those in action featured a lot in the Championship last season.

"We need everyone. They are all important."