It took just nine minutes for Nathan Lowe to make an impact.
Freshly recalled from a stunning loan spell at League Two Walsall in the first half of the season, the young forward was parachuted into Stoke’s starting XI for a tricky away tie at West Brom on January 18.
The aim - to help rejuvenate an ailing season that had already seen three permanent managers take the hot seat at Stoke.
And, with the game barely into its flow, Lowe was there to pounce inside the penalty box to give the Potters a shock lead and cap a remarkable six months in his career.