Geraint: We Played Magnificently

Colchester United manager Geraint Williams believed his side ‘played magnificently’, despite losing to Stoke in the last ever game at Layer Road.

Richard Cresswell forced home the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time, as the U’s saw Clive Platt’s last minute header ruled out.

Williams said, post match: ‘We wanted to say goodbye to the old ground and all we could do it put in a performance to give people some happy memories.

‘I think we played magnificently and we dealt with all but one of their long throws into the box, and that has cost us and won the game for Stoke.’

Stoke boss Tony Pulis explained: ‘The best thing to come out of today is that is in our hands. It could have swung towards Hull but it has stayed with us and that is the most important thing.

‘Someone came over and said it was 1-1 at Hull – but I didn’t realise the full story until the end of the game.

‘This is a difficult place to come to at the best of times – but it was made more so. There were fireworks and bands on the pitch but we told the players the main event was at three o’clock. They were fantastic.’