by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE City manager Tony Pulis is confident controversial striker Ricardo Fuller will be cleared of an alleged assault in a Hanley nightclub last weekend.

Pulis saw Fuller inspire Stoke’s second-half comeback in their 1-1 draw at Wigan last night, and then revealed that the alleged nightclub victim, a 21-year-old man, could soon withdraw his allegations against the Jamaican striker.

“We are hoping that what happened over the weekend, the lad will come forward and drop the allegations,” said Pulis.

“Then Ric can get on with playing football, which he does very well.

“I thought he was different class last night. He changed the game because of his threat with his pace and his power.”

Stoke trailed for 60 minutes before Tuncay deservedly headed them level with their first away goal for nearly 10 hours.

“Tunny missed four or five opportunities, but I was so pleased to see him score,” said Pulis. “Mama Sidibe also hit the bar when I thought it was going in.

“We got loads of balls to the front men second half and played some smashing football, so it was disappointing we didn’t get more goals.

“We played through the pitch, not square, and I think our supporters liked that.”

Pulis went for all-out attack to chase the game in the second half and, even at 1-0 down at the break, he was convinced his players could surge forward to claim only their second away success of the season.

“In the first 20 to 25 minutes they had the better of the game,” he explained, “but then I switched the back four round to nullify their wide players.

“Robert Huth and Andy Wilkinson are good man-to-man markers and they enjoyed that challenge at full-back.

“At half-time I said I thought we could win the game if we upped the pace. I really fancied us, because of our spirit and fitness levels are very good and it was a heavy, sticky pitch.

“Our away form is very good, but we haven’t scored enough goals. We have created the chances, though, and did that again against Wigan.

“No-one can say we haven’t tried to win the game.”

Last night’s draw nudged Stoke up to 30 points, 10 off the manager’s magical 40-point safety target, and he added: “I go to bed every night thinking we’ve got to get to 40 points.

“That’s all I’m interested in when it comes to the league at the moment.”