ANDY GRIFFIN admitted to feeling a mixture of joy and relief after hitting the injury-time winner in Stoke City's Carling Cup triumph over Blackpool.

The 30-year-old defender fired a low shot past Matthew Gilks in the 95th minute to cap a remarkable fightback and clinch the Potters a place in the fourth round of the competition with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Championship club at the Britannia Stadium.

"It was one of the best feelings I've had," he told stokecityfc.com. "But there was relief as well as jubilation after what had happened to me.

"It could all have been so different, because I was part of a defence that conceded three goals and I have to hold my hands up and accept responsibility for the second goal. But I have shown a little bit of character and managed to redeem myself."

He added: "I am too old now to let mistakes like that bother me. You have to remain positive and as a team we have certainly done that.

"We tore them apart in the second half. We could have finished up winning 6-3 or 7-3, but the most important thing is that we won in the end."

Griffin welcomed the chance to figure in the Carling Cup tie, but is uncertain as to where his future lies at present due to lack of opportunities.

"Every player wants to play, and I am no different," he commented. "I am 30 years old, I'm not getting any younger, but I'm as fit as I have ever been.