It’s fair to say that Tony Pulis’s Stoke City were hammered for their style of play on winning promotion to the Premier League. Too rough, too reliant on setpieces (usually involving a Rory Delap throw), too much of a long ball team. Just too Stoke.

But it seems the rest of the football world is finally catching up with the Pulis philosophy of playing the game. First it was Arsenal (of all teams) with their propensity to make the most of setpieces to win games - even employing a specialist setpiece coach in Nicolas Jover.

And now an ailing Manchester City have caught on, with the mighty Pep Guardiola embracing long-ball football over the tippy-tappy stuff the great man usually employs.

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And it did the trick against Chelsea on Saturday evening, prompting Sky’s Kelly Cates to namecheck TP during talk of the City tactics in claiming a 3-1 victory at the Etihad.

The daughter of “King” Kenny Dalglish told viewers: “Talking about Arsenal and their propensity for free kicks and dead ball situations, Tony Pulis was absolutely delighted. He said, I knew everybody would come round to my way of thinking.

“Now he's seeing Pep Guardiola and Manchester City play long ball football, I think he's going to be even happier, but it's so effective for Manchester City.”

'Slightly better' Rowett

Gary Rowett maintained his decent run against Stoke City since his brief spell managing the Potters as Oxford claimed a point at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

It was a hard watch for home fans and those who had travelled up from Oxfordshire, and Rowett was in no mood to rubbish his former employers after the 0-0 bore draw. He said after the game: “I thought it was a pretty even encounter.

“Of course, when we pinch the ball down in the corner and the goal looks open, you half think, ‘Is this the moment where we snatch it and we pinch the points?’

“But, of course, we couldn’t quite find the finish, we hit the bar, and sometimes that happens, but I wouldn’t have been coming away saying we deserved all three points.

“I think we probably had slightly more possession, probably had slightly more chances, slightly better chances, but I don’t think there was enough in it to warrant either team really feeling like they should have won the game.

“As the away team, sometimes you’re a little more happy when that happens because we’ve won four out of four at home and away from home you just want to pick your points up, so keeping our run going and a clean sheet is not to be sniffed at.”

The one that got away

New loan signing Ali Al-Hamadi was in the stands at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday no doubt wondering if he could have been the difference for his new club against Oxford if he had signed on time from Ipswich Town.

His deal was not announced until the early evening on Friday, meaning it was too late for the former Wycombe and AFC Wimbledon striker to play on Saturday, but his time will no doubt come.

The same cannot be said for another forward linked with Stoke this month - Bristol City’s Fally Mayulu. It was announced today that the 22-year-old has joined Austrian side Sturm Graz on loan for the rest of the season.

Mayulu, who has previously played in Austria at BW Linz and Rapid Vienna, made 15 Sky Bet Championship appearances this season, scoring two goals.

And Robins head coach Liam Manning told the club website: “This is a move that is best for Fally and the club, which is the most important thing. He is going to get game time to continue his development, and we will continue to monitor him.”

Saddled with defeat

Tommy Simkin must be wondering what else can go wrong at loan club Walsall. First his fellow Stoke City loanee Nathan Lowe was recalled by the Potters on the back of a 18-goal haul for the promotion-chasing Saddlers.

Then the League 2 leaders went to Valley Parade on Saturday and surrendered their 16-match unbeaten run with an emphatic 3-0 defeat to Bradford. Walsall even missed a penalty, but at least the England under-20s goalkeeper could do nothing about goals from Antoni Sarcevic and Alex Pattison (2).