The secrets of business—complicated and often dismal mysteries—were buried in his breast and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.

Ed enjoyed kniffles, sauerbraten, a glass of pilsener taken away from home and Cosey's sight...

That's a nice skateboard, but can you do any tricks on it?

However, until Gardner stole the ball from Dean Whitehead in the centre circle with the half-hour approaching, setting off on a run which culminated with a testing long-range shot - with debutant Obafemi Martins lurking, Begovic gathered at the second time of asking - Stoke looked the more credible contenders to break the deadlock.