THERE was a moment on Saturday when the Boothen End broke into a chant of "Mama Sidibe", and thoughts turned to the big man's last-gasp winner against Aston Villa five years ago.
Back then Stoke were just beginning their Premier League adventure , were the bookies favourites to go down, but had a side which would rise magnificently to the challenge.
JUMP TO IT: Stoke defender Robert Huth is crowded out by Aston Villa's Nathan Baker. Inset: Manager Tony Pulis looks dejected as he leaves the field at the end of the game.
Back to the present day and City's Premier League status is in serious jeopardy for the first time since they proved everyone wrong in that first season.
The problem is this time they are not the underdogs delighting in giving the big boys a bloody nose; they are the side in free-fall and, on Saturday's evidence, desperately lacking self-belief.
For a few weeks City have looked like their wheels needed oiling. Saturday, however, was the first time the wheels have looked like coming off completely.
City were outplayed and out-battled by an Aston Villa side who have spent all season around the relegation zone. This was Stoke's worst, and most worrying performance of the campaign.
Tony Pulis is going to have to call on all his experience and motivational powers to guide the Potters to the four points from the remaining six games they will almost certainly need to stay up.
It's not just about the manager, although he will expect the flak. The players have to perform too, and too many were well below par on Saturday.
They should have had an early penalty to take the lead, and looked the more likely winners at 1-1 before Matthew Lowton's wonder-goal tipped the game back in Villa's favour three minutes from time.
The dipping 25-yard volley sent the Villa fans crazy behind Asmir Begovic's goal and sent Stoke supporters streaming for the Britannia Stadium exits.
Both sets of fans knew the importance of a goal which effectively settled this game after Michael Kightly's 80th-minute strike had equalised Gabby Agbonlahor's ninth-minute opener.
Villa are a point behind Stoke, on 33 points, but have momentum having won three of their last four games. City have won one in 13.
Christian Beneteke's goal, to make it 3-1 in injury-time, only happened because Stoke were desperately throwing men forward and so vulnerable on the break.
But let's not kid ourselves. Villa should have had this game sewn up long before Lowton's stunning volley finally snatched the game away from Pulis's side.
It wasn't all about Stoke of course. We have to give credit to Paul Lambert's young side who were streets ahead of City for much of the game.
But Stoke have to be worried that they created so little against a side who started the day with the second worst defensive record in the division.
There were spells, in the opening five minutes and just before and after Kightly's equaliser, where City did put the Villa defence under pressure. It wasn't enough though.
Stoke's failure to create many chances, never mind score goals, has put enormous pressure on their defence since the turn of the year. On Saturday, against an enterprising Villa side who attacked with pace and precision, City's defence just wasn't up to it.
It was unfair of Match of The Day to suggest Stoke fans turning on their side played a part in Saturday's defeat. In fact, the supporters showed plenty of patience and cranked up the volume after Agbonlahor fired Villa in front.
Pundits Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson were spot on however, when they said Villa should have won more comfortably, and when they said City played nothing like the "up-and-at-'em" side which has earned such a fearsome reputation at the Britannia.
Stoke's task won't get any easier at home to Manchester United next week, but perhaps going into a game as huge underdogs will suit a side who need to rediscover that "us-against-the-world" spirit.
Forget the legitimate complaints about lack of entertainment which have dominated the season so far. None of that matters now, it's all about scraping together the points to stay up over the next six games.
The new £3b television deal, up 70 per cent on the previous contract, means it has never been more important to be in the Premier League.
Link: [Live Football] Stoke City - Manchester United - English Premier League
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