David Riley

Stoke 1 Man City 0 2008-2009. A season when we were expected to be relegated back to the Championship, where we were supposed to roll over with a whimper, where a certain bookmaker paid out bets on our relegation after the first game.

A game which typified what we were about that season. Rory Delap sent off, a strange moment. Backs-against-the-wall stuff and just before half-time, Beattie rose at the far post to head home and put us in the lead. 

In truth it was backs-against-the-wall stuff for most of the game. Around the 80th minute, there was a lull in play and for no obvious reason a massive roar of encouragement went up from all corners of the ground. A roar that said to our players, ’10 minutes, that’s all that’s left – keep on going’. It was one of those moments: typical of the support we gave our players that season. For 23 years the highlights had been few and far between, but this season was unforgettable