WREXHAM 0
STOKE CITY 0
Attendance: 1,619

STOKE CITY'S pre-season build-up ended on a frustrating note with striker Ricardo Fuller being sent off for violent conduct at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.

The Jamaican international was shown the red card by referee Bryn Markham-Jones after he appeared to raise his hand and catch Wrexham left back Neil Ashton in the face, forcing Tony Pulis' side to battle through the remainder of a goalless draw with ten men

Despite the fact that it was a pre-season friendly, the referee opted not to adopt a leniant approach and gave the striker his marching orders in a game that had a number of flashpoints, but also saw City squander a number of opportunities to come out on top.

Turkish international Tuncay went the closest to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions in a lively performance, having one goal disallowed, hitting the bar with a thunderous free kick and also wasting a number of other opportunities from good positions.

City could have gone in front as early as the third minute when Tuncay was the provider, teeing up Danny Collins with the chance to mark his 30th birthday with a goal, but his first time shot was well-saved by the outstretched leg of Wrexham 'keeper Scott Shearer.

Tuncay was then ruled offside when he lifted the ball into the roof of the net in the sixth minute before he set up Rory Delap to have a shot blocked in City's next attack.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Potters went in front and Fuller was the next to threaten the home side, but he failed to make clean contact with his close range volley.

Wrexham's best chance of the game came in the 10th minute when a free kick from their skipper Dean Keates was met by the incoming Nat Knight-Percival's head at the far post but that forced the best out of Asmir Begovic who saved well diving low to his right.

After such a lively opening by both sides, a little bit of needle started to creep into the game and City had some worrying moments when Dean Whitehead and Fuller both went down injured, but both were able to continue after treatment from physio Dave Watson.

Collins, who was clearly intent on marking the occasion with a goal, had two shots blocked inside the box in one City attack, one of them seeing Dean Caines throw himself at the goalbound attempt to prevent the Welsh international from hitting the target.

The half ended with a number of full-blooded challenges and a clash between Fuller and Wrexham defender Chris Blackburn right on the half time whistle which forced others to intervene and separate them as the players headed for the tunnel.

City's first threat after the break came when Liam Lawrence crossed from the right and Ryan Shawcross sent a twisting header flashing over the bar.

One of the big plus points of the night for Pulis was the return to action of winger Matthew Etherington following a groin injury and he looked very lively in playing for the best part of an hour before eventually making way for Mamady Sidibe.

City were then forced into another reshuffle minutes later when they were reduced to ten men after Fuller had clashed with Ashton near the touchline.

But despite that setback, they had some fantastic opportunities to go in front, none more so than when Tuncay unleashed a stunning drive from a free kick which hit the bar, no doubt venting his frustration on the ball after Fuller's sending off.

Tuncay's pace down the left hand side opened up the Wrexham defence on a couple of occasions but on both occasions his final shot didn't match the approach work, his first shot rolling tamely wide and the second curling across the face of goal.