The Potters boss was expected to miss a home date with Aston Villa following the death of his mother earlier in the day. However, having seen his side head into half-time 1-0 behind, he made a surprise appearance in the dressing room. An inspirational rousing of his troops saw Stoke reinvigorated after the break and late goals from Jones and Robert Huth helped to seal a dramatic 2-1 win. Jones admits Pulis' presence helped to lift the players, with his commitment to the collective cause proving just how much the job means to him. "I've never seen anything like that," said the Trinidad & Tobago international. "Many would take time off and grieve for such a loss. "I guess Tony was grieving but it spurred him on to come back and do what he loves. "I'm not being disrespectful. He understands his mother lived a full life, no-one likes to lose a family member. In the coming days I'm sure he will celebrate her life. "We were surprised to see him, we didn't expect he'd be in the dressing room. But the manager showed his passion for the club and for this team. He came out and did his job. "It did inspire us. Sometimes the passion of football overrides everything else."
