Stoke boss Steven Schumacher was brimming with pride after his side held promotion-chasing Ipswich to a goalless draw.
The Potters had the better chances, but they had to hold on for dear life after Jordan Thompson was sent off in the second half.
Schumacher took over the reins at the Staffordshire club last month and they are now six unbeaten; but with only one win in the past two months.
“I’m really pleased and proud of the players,” reflected Schumacher. “They put some effort in for the fourth game in a row in 10 days against a tough team.
“I’m really proud of them because we’ve managed to get a result which I felt we deserved.
“We played really well for 20-25 minutes and caused lots of problems. We couldn’t get ourselves in front.
“I felt just before the red card we were back on top, but the red card changed it.
“For 25 minutes, we’ve had to dig deep and fight for a point. Thankfully the lads have done that and I’m really pleased. They deserved it.
“The team spirit is the most pleasing aspect. It shouldn’t be easy to come here and play. We need to make it a tough game and it should be a tough place to play and it should be.
“The atmosphere was brilliant. The fans got behind us when we really needed them for the last five or ten minutes there.
“I’m really pleased, we got a result because we played really well.”
Ipswich remained in the top two despite going a fifth game without a win – their longest such streak in the league since April 2022.
Tractor Boys’ boss Kieran McKenna rued a big chance after his side failed to make the most of the man advantage.
He said: “We would have liked to have won. But I saw a lot of good things in the performance.
“With the schedule it doesn’t make it any easier, but I saw a lot of good things.
“It was a tough start. But after that we controlled the game really well and stayed brave.
“We got into some really good situations, but we were a first touch or half a yard away from getting a goal.
“We weren’t able to quite do enough after they went down to 10 men. It’s an advantage, but in other ways they were open and there was space to attack when they had 11.
“The crowd weren’t necessarily with them, but them the sending off galvanised them around that a little bit.
“They defended their box in numbers, but we weren’t able to do enough at the end of the game.
“That’s a frustration, but as a collective and individually there were a lot of good things.”
'If they want me, I will stay' - Fernandes on Man Utd future
Bruno Fernandes says he will stay at Manchester United if the club wants him to be part of their future.
As the transfer window draws closer, the United captain is reportedly attracting interest from several Saudi Pro League clubs and Bayern Munich.
Fernandes, who joined the Red Devils from Sporting CP in January 2020, has two years left on his current contract after signing an extension in 2022.
Speaking to Sky Sports after their 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday, Fernandes stated his commitment to the club.
"If they want me, I will stay," he said. "I will be here until... I said the club needs to want me.
"I feel that the club wants me to be a part of the future, so, as I said always, I don't want to be a player that the club doesn't want to have."
Fernandes has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season and got his 12th assist when he picked out Rasmus Hojlund for United’s third goal against Newcastle.
Erik ten Hag had already expressed his confidence that the Portugal international would stay at the club, and he reiterated that upon hearing about Fernandes’ post-match comments.
"Absolutely the club wants to keep Bruno. There's no question, I think," Ten Hag said.
"He gives always his best. He's an example, even with injuries he's playing. He loves football, but he wants to win.
"I'm very pleased with his performances across the season because for him, it's not easy when so many players are injured around him and every time, he has to carry the team."
Winning is in Juventus' DNA, says Allegri after Coppa Italia triumph
Massimiliano Allegri said that winning is in Juventus' DNA after the Bianconeri clinched the Coppa Italia title.
Dusan Vlahovic's goal proved enough for Juve to overcome Atalanta in Wednesday's final.
It marks Juve's first trophy since they won the Coppa in the 2020-21 season, when Cristiano Ronaldo was still at the club.
Juve still need one more win from their last two Serie A fixtures to guarantee Champions League qualification, but Allegri believes he has laid solid foundations this season, with his future still up in the air.
"Very happy for the boys, they brought joy to the club, to the fans and to me. Winning is never easy, but it is in our DNA," said Allegri, who became the first coach in history to win the Coppa Italia five times.
"If I am no longer the Juventus coach next year, I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations."
Goalscorer Vlahovic says the target for next season is clear.
"I find it difficult to speak, I can only thank everyone," he told Mediaset.
"We know the difficulties we faced, in the end we achieved the objectives set at the beginning of the year. I'm sorry for the Scudetto, but Inter deservedly won it.
"We are very happy, but next year we must aim to win everything. Juventus' DNA requires this."
Juve have won six of the last eight Coppa Italia finals they have featured in, including their last two, both against Atalanta.
Ten Hag sees positives from Man Utd's season as he vows to bring FA Cup back to Old Trafford
Erik ten Hag is taking the positives from Manchester United's season, as he aims to win the FA Cup.
United have endured a difficult campaign, though they kept their European qualification hopes alive by beating Newcastle United 3-2 on Wednesday at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag took the microphone to speak to the fans after full-time, saying: "You are the best supporters in the world. Thanks for your support.
"I promise you that those players will give everything to get the cup and bring it to Old Trafford."
United face rivals Manchester City at Wembley on May 25, and speaking to reporters, Ten Hag – whose future is uncertain – sees no reason not to take some positives from the campaign.
"I see the positives, I see that this team is developing, I know the reasons why we are not performing," Ten Hag said.
"No team will perform when the whole back four is not available, across the season.
"Even striker Rasmus Hojlund, three times injured, [Marcus] Rashford, also injured, so we have had our problems across the season and that has a negative impact on the results.
"You see players performing and you see players progressing like the youngsters and that is very positive, there is a high potential in this club.
"So, there are also many positives in this season, but I can't mention this. You know why. At the end of the day, we have to win trophies. And in the Premier League, and in the Champions League, we didn't perform what people expect from us."
United sit eighth on 57 points, level with Newcastle but three behind sixth-placed Chelsea. The Red Devils face Brighton in their final game of the season on Sunday.
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