Second half goals from Danny Hylton and Cameron Jerome lifted his side to within two points of the play-off places and the gaffer admitted post-match, “that is as good as it gets.”

“We were aggressive, front-footed, showed quality, scored at the right times and could have had more. We switched off from a corner at the end, but we limited a good Stoke side and I’m very proud tonight. Not just because it’s my old club but because the performance level was very high tonight and I’m proud of that.

“We were on the periphery first half, we got to grips with the game and if we had shown a little bit more quality, we would have had chances but at half-time I felt the crowd had gone. They had turned and coming out second half, I knew if we started fast it would be to their determinant.

"We penned them in and we were right up against them. If you give Joe Allen, Nick Powell, Tyrese Campbell time, they will hurt you. Without being disrespectful, we should have had more.”