Stoke all smiles after tale of two cities

LONG before the phrase ‘doing a Derby’ became the voguish term to describe abject failure in the Premier League, Stoke City had cornered the market in top-flight under-achievement.

Their meagre haul of 17 points in 1985 was recognised as the lowest ever return until Sunderland went one worse 21 years later.

Now, finally, they have the chance to erase that painful memory of life amongst the elite after securing promotion following an unbearably tense afternoon yesterday that also culminated in the relegation of opponents Leicester City.