The pre-season, which included victories over Valencia and West Brom and a highly creditable performance against Roma, and new signings Steve Simonsen and Dave Brammer left the Potters faithful will renewed hope that this could be the year going into the opening day clash with Wolves. a 2-1 win in front of the Sky cameras heightened the expectations further and after 6 games the Potters were still unbeaten.
That run ended with a crushing 3-0 defeat at Deepdale against Preston before the Potters reached the top of the table 3 days later after an enthralling game against Ipswich when the Potters ran out 3-2 winners in front of 23,000 at the Britannia, despite being down to 10 men.
Seven winless games followed as the Potters slid back into the play off chasing pack. The last of those 7 games was a one all draw at Leicester which was to prove the last time until mid-February(17 league games) that the Potters would have more than one goal in a game. That run consisted of seven 1-0 wins, eight 1-0 losses and two goalless draws, the most frustrating time being five consecutive single goal defeats in a row after Christmas.
Kevin Harper was signed with the aim of producing more in the final third and his debut saw an end to the binary run as he set up all three goals as Stoke beat Leicester, coincidentily, by three goals to two in what seemed a goal fest.
The sale of Ade Akinbiyi hadn't helped but Noel-Williams stepped into his shoes and then netted seven in seven but Tony Pulis' side were also conceding goals more reguarly and the indifferent form continued.
April saw five defeats including demoralisng 3-1 losses to rivals Derby and Cardiff but two victories including a two nil victory away at local rivals Crewe.
The season ended fittingly with 1-0 defeats at home to Watford and away to champions Sunderland before manager Tony Pulis was sacked for failing to exploit the foreign transfer market.
Appearances
47-Darel Russell(47/0), Gifton Noel-Williams(41/6)
44-Clive Clarke(44/0), Dave Brammer(42/2)
37-Wayne Thomas(37/0)
36-Karl Henry(15/21)
35-Carl Asaba(15/20), Chris Greenacre(19/16)
33-Clint Hill(32/1), Steve Simonsen(31/2)
32-Gerry Taggart(32/0)
30-Ade Akinbiyi(30/0)
25-Michael Duberry(25/0)
24-John Halls(22/2), Lewis Neal(11/13)
21-Marcus Hall(20/1)
17-Ed De Goey(17/0), Lewis Buxton(15/2)
13-Kenwyne Jones(13/0)
11-Michael Ricketts(1/10)
9-Kevin Harper(8/1)
8-John Eustace(2/6)
4-Chris Barker(4/0), Steve Guppy(0/4)
3-Jason Jarrett(3/0), Martin Patterson(0/3)
2-Gareth Owen(0/2), Toddi Gudjonsson(0/2), Chris Clark(0/2)
1-Jermaine Palmer(0/1), Carl Dickinson(0/1), Andy Wilkinson(0/1)
Goals
13-Gifton Noel-Williams(2p)
7-Ade Akinbiyi
3-Wayne Thomas, Kenwyne Jones2-Darel Russell, Gerry Taggart, Carl Asaba
1-Clive Clarke(p), Marcus Hall, Chris Greenacre, Dave Brammer, Clint Hill, Lewis Neal