The Potters became the first English side this season to book their passage through to the knockout rounds thanks to a gritty 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night. A Matthew Upson own goal in the first half gave the hosts an uphill task but they dominated the second period and got their reward nine minutes from time when Kenwyne Jones headed in Jermaine Pennant's cross. A group involving Kiev, Besiktas and Maccabi Tel Aviv promised a serious test for European novices Stoke, but it is the travelling that has made life particularly difficult for the Staffordshire side. Pulis said: "What I'm desperate for is that we get a western European team. We can have a great night at the Britannia but I think the supporters will be absolutely delighted if we can draw a team that's close enough for a lot of them to travel to, and then they can have a great night." Stoke still have one more long trip to make, to Istanbul to face Besiktas in a fortnight's time, but the pressure has now been well and truly lifted. A draw there would ensure the Potters win Group E, but Pulis admitted the chance to rest some players will be a priority. He said: "That's the great thing about this result, to be able to go to Turkey and pick a team that will give it the best they possibly can, but in the back of my mind I'll think I can rest one or two players." Stoke are playing in European competition for the first time in 35 years and, having never before even won a tie, Thursday night's result made it seven wins and two draws from nine games this season. Pulis and his players have fully embraced the competition, and the Welshman is baffled by managers who see it as a headache. He said: "It's the first time we've been in Europe for more than 30 years. You can wash it away, but I don't want to wash it away, I want to enjoy it, I want the supporters to enjoy it, I want everybody at the football club to enjoy it because we might not get it for a while again. "I just can't believe that people do it. It's the first time this football club's ever achieved this, so it's another milestone and is testimony to everything we're trying to do."
