 Stoke won the Football League Trophy in the 1999 – 2000 season with a 2 – 1 win over Bristol City in April 2000 before a crowd of 75 @,@ 057 at Wembley . Disappointment followed a month later , as Stoke were defeated against Gillingham in the play @-@ off semi @-@ finals , consigning themselves to another year in Division Two . They reached the play @-@ offs again in the 2000 – 01 season with a fifth @-@ place finish , but this time Walsall halted Stoke 's progress at the semi @-@ final stage . Thordarson achieved promotion at the third attempt in 2001 – 02 ; another fifth @-@ place finish ensured a play @-@ off spot . Cardiff City were defeated in the semi @-@ final before a 2 – 0 win against Brentford at the Millennium Stadium secured promotion . Despite achieving the goal of promotion , Thordarson was sacked by Gunnar Gíslason , only five days after the club won the play @-@ off final . A campaign calling for Thordarson 's reinstatement was organised by fans , but it proved unsuccessful . 
