Stoke boss Tony Pulis is amused by teams copying the Potters' long throw-ins after two years of disparaging comments about them. "We create other chances and opportunities apart from through Rory's throws," he said.

"It's funny though, every time I turn the TV on now someone is throwing it long.

"Gareth Bale does it for Tottenham and I watched Southampton's FA Cup tie against Portsmouth and one of their lads was picking it up and throwing it into the box.

"People do it. It is just that we might do it better than others."