the turn from close range, and his shot took a deflection before ending in the Brentford goal. Steve Sidwell's volley from the edge of the Stoke penalty area went over the crossbar before Gunnlaugsson beat Evans and shot over the goal. A minute before half-time, Stoke doubled their lead when Gunnlaugsson was fouled just outside Brentford's penalty area, and Guðjónsson's subsequent free kick took a deflection off Burgess and beat Smith in the Brentford goal. The second half saw Brentford denied by Stoke goalkeeper Neil Cutler on numerous occasions, including weak shots from Lloyd Owusu and Evans. Cutler also made a save late in the second half against Mark McCammon, who had come on in the 70th minute to replace Burgess. The match ended 2–0 and Stoke were promoted to the First Division. Details Post-match Stoke's victorious manager Guðjón Þórðarson said that he felt sorry for Brentford: "I have sympathy for Steve [Coppell] and his team. We have twice gone close and know how much it hurts." He expressed uncertainty about his future with the club, suggesting that he had not "got a clue what is happening". He said that the consortium who had taken over the club in 1999 "asked for results and I have delivered – and now they have to deliver a proper contract". His counterpart Steve Coppell expressed dismay over his team's defending of set pieces: "We gave away two terrible goals." He also reflected on his own position and that of Brentford: "It is the nature of a football clubs that there are many imponderables in the summer – but particularly at our football club". He left Brentford the following month, claiming the club lacked ambition: "...at Brentford the aim is to survive... Noades (the Brentford chairman) told me before the end of last season that if I thought the last campaign was tight, the next one will be tighter", and was replaced by first-team coach Wally Downes. Brentford ended their following season in 16th place in the Second Division, five positions and six points above the relegation zone. Despite gaining promotion, Stoke City sacked Þórðarson five days after the final following a disagreement between him and Stoke's Icelandic ownership consortium, replacing him with Steve Cotterill. Thirteen matches into the following season, Cotterill resigned from his position with the club in 15th place to join Sunderland as assistant manager to Howard Wilkinson whereupon Stoke appointed