YOU wouldn't shout this in Lou Macari's Old Trafford chippy for fear of getting battered, but Stoke City have bigger fish to fry than Manchester United.
I know. This sounds ridiculous, and no disrespect intended to the three-time European Champions, but the importance of this match was reflected in last night's travelling support of around 900... just three days after City took 5,500 to Derby in the FA Cup.
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CRITICISED: Stoke boss Tony Pulis has been talking up FA Cup opponents Crawley Town.
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FLASH POINT: Stoke's Andy Wilkinson is booked by referee Mike Jones for contesting the first penalty decision which handed United the lead. Picture: Mark Scott
It's not a case of City fans becoming complacent about a visit to Old Trafford after four years in the Premier League, but with FA Cup away matches and a certain game in Valencia to pay for, no wonder many are picking and choosing their away trips.
A decent reason for giving this one a swerve, the unavoidable probability that Stoke would lose, was borne out in the 2-0 result, but the game itself didn't follow the pattern more pessimistic Potters might have expected.
In previous visits Stoke have defended doggedly, but been overwhelmed because they couldn't keep the ball.
That just wasn't the case last night because City, were, if not exactly puffing away at cigars, were at least fairly comfortable until Jermaine Pennant's 37th-minute challenge on Ji-Sung Park gave United their first penalty and Javier Hernandez's opener.
It was an opening period richly enjoyed by the travelling Stokies, whose jousting with home supporters included chants of: "We are Stoke City, we're still in the cup".
Indeed so. In fact, the fifth-round FA Cup tie at Crawley must rank as of greater importance than last night's game as City attempt to move within one game of Wembley.
Tony Pulis has had some criticism for 'talking up' Crawley after City were drawn to play them away in the fifth round.
That's hardly fair. Complacency is Stoke's surest route to a fifth round exit so Pulis is hardly going to say, "They're only League Two so we should beat them".
Instead he chose the same type of answer most managers would give, albeit one laced with irony.
"They are a big side with a long throw and a small ground," he said. The rotters.
The Crawley game on the weekend of February 18/19, comes in the middle of the biggest week of Stoke's season, as it is sandwiched by the home and away Europa League ties with Valencia.
Mind you, Pulis won't expect much sympathy from his Valencia counterpart Unai Emery. On the same weekend Stoke travel to Crawley Town, Valencia are away to Barcelona.
Valencia will expect a bombardment at the Britannia, and shouldn't be disappointed, but Stoke went into last night's game without a long-throw expert in the side for the second game running.
Rory Delap, who came on as a substitute, is more likely to start on the tighter Britannia pitch against Sunderland on Saturday as City attempt to end an uncharacteristic run of three home games without a win.
They shouldn't be too disheartened by last night's defeat, or at least not a first half in which, the penalty apart, they defended as well as they had in last month's the goalless draw at Anfield, but looked more comfortable going forward. With Pennant on one wing, Jon Walters on the other and Kenwyne Jones supporting Peter Crouch up front, this wasn't a 'park the bus' effort from City.
However, taking the game to United after the break was always going to be difficult, and a daunting task looked next to impossible once referee Mike Jones gave United their second spot kick, this time for Jon Walters's 52nd-minute challenge on Antonio Valencia.
Pulis wasn't thrilled by the decisions, although having already been in bother with the Football Association for comments about Lee Probert in the Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool, he declined to fully vent his feelings.
Dimitar Berbatov's spot-kick allowed United to relax, and left Stoke wondering what might have been.
At least City kept plugging away, and Cameron Jerome got on the end of Jermaine Pennant's cross to force a save from keeper Ben Amos, but United looked more and more comfortable the longer the game wore on.
They could have added to the score, but Berbatov side-footed wide of a gaping goal in injury time. Besides, City had earlier got the benefit of a decision when Jones decided not to give his third penalty of the evening, this time for Andy Wilkinson's challenge on Patrice Evra.
Mind you, had Jones given that one, Stoke's training-ground canteen would be serving deep fried referee for the rest of the week.
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