TONY PULIS made two changes to the Stoke City side which overcame bottom club Portsmouth in the live televised match . . . recalling Republic of Ireland international Liam Lawrence and striker Mamady Sidibe to his starting line-up.
Lawrence replaced Rory Delap following his impressive contribution as a second half substitute against Pompey and Sidibe was brought in to replace James Beattie who has been battling with injury problems in recent matches.
Pulis resisted the temptation to recall skipper Abdoulaye Faye following his one match suspension and Glenn Whelan had to be content with a place on the bench.
That meant Ryan Shawcross skippered the side once again and lined up with Robert Huth alongside him at the centre of the Potters defence.
Although Sam Allardyce was missing after undergoing minor surgery on a coronary artery, he planned to have the final word on the selection of his team and he sprung a surprise by leaving striker Jason Roberts on the bench.
ROVERS (4-5-1): Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; Emerton, Andrews, Dunn, Nzonzi, Diouf;Di Santo. Subs: Brown, Roberts, McCarthy, Grella, Pedersen, Kalinic, Salgado.
CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins; Lawrence, Diao, Whitehead, Etherington; Sidibe, Fuller. Subs: Simonsen, Faye, Higginbotham, Whelan, Tuncay, Beattie, Delap.
REFEREE: Howard Webb.
