Stoke boss Tony Pulis vowed his side will finish the job themselves after they were agonisingly denied promotion to the Barclays Premier League despite a 1-0 win over Colchester.
Richard Cresswell's lucky strike appeared to have secured Stoke's return to the top flight after a 23-year exile, with promotion rivals Hull being held by Crystal Palace.
But a late winner from Hull kept the champagne on ice and ensured the promotion race goes down to the final day of the season, with Stoke now needing a point from a home game against Leicester to reach the big time.
"The best thing to come out of today is that is in our hands," said Pulis.
"It could have swung towards Hull but it has stayed with us and that is the most important thing.
"Someone came over and said it was 1-1 at Hull - but I didn't realise the full story until the end of the game."
With Leicester still scrapping for points at the other end of the table, a nailbiting finale to the Coca-Cola Championship season is guaranteed.
But Pulis feels his side are capable of holding their nerve as they put in one final dip for the finish line.
"The big thing is it will be at the Britannia (Stadium), it will be sold out and the place will be rocking. We really need our supporters to get behind us," he added.
"I should think Leicester would also prefer it if we had nothing to play for so it's swings and roundabouts. We just have to make sure we approach the game the way we approached every game of late and hope we get a little rub of the green.
"The most important thing is that we are positive and we go out to try to beat Leicester. We won't worry what other people are doing, we'll just concentrate on our own jobs and do our best to put a performance in.
"This is a difficult place to come to at the best of times - but it was made more so. There were fireworks and bands on the pitch but we told the players the main event was at three o'clock. They were fantastic."
To the relegated Us' credit, they were determined not to stage a promotion party as they played their final match at Layer Road, their home for 70 years, ahead of a move to their new stadium next term.
The Colchester fans also got to bid farewell to another old specimen with Teddy Sheringham, who retires at the end of the season, getting a second-half run-out - his first appearance since February.
But it was Cresswell's scrappy goal, in first-half stoppage time, which fittingly won a scrappy game .
Rory Delap launched yet another long throw into the penalty area and although Cresswell's point-blank header was saved by Dean Gerken, Liam Lawrence's shot hit his team-mate's knee and rebounded in.
Colchester know they will definitely be leaving the Coca-Cola Championship back to League One after two seasons.
"We wanted to say goodbye to the old ground and all we could do it put in a performance to give people some happy memories," said manager Geraint Williams, who will lead his side out in a new 10,000-seater stadium next term.
"I think we played magnificently and we dealt with all but one of their long throws into the box, and that has cost us and won the game for Stoke."
ends
But a late winner from Hull kept the champagne on ice and ensured the promotion race goes down to the final day of the season, with Stoke now needing a point from a home game against Leicester to reach the big time.
"The best thing to come out of today is that is in our hands," said Pulis.
"It could have swung towards Hull but it has stayed with us and that is the most important thing.
"Someone came over and said it was 1-1 at Hull - but I didn't realise the full story until the end of the game."
With Leicester still scrapping for points at the other end of the table, a nailbiting finale to the Coca-Cola Championship season is guaranteed.
But Pulis feels his side are capable of holding their nerve as they put in one final dip for the finish line.
"The big thing is it will be at the Britannia (Stadium), it will be sold out and the place will be rocking. We really need our supporters to get behind us," he added.
"I should think Leicester would also prefer it if we had nothing to play for so it's swings and roundabouts. We just have to make sure we approach the game the way we approached every game of late and hope we get a little rub of the green.
"The most important thing is that we are positive and we go out to try to beat Leicester. We won't worry what other people are doing, we'll just concentrate on our own jobs and do our best to put a performance in.
"This is a difficult place to come to at the best of times - but it was made more so. There were fireworks and bands on the pitch but we told the players the main event was at three o'clock. They were fantastic."
To the relegated Us' credit, they were determined not to stage a promotion party as they played their final match at Layer Road, their home for 70 years, ahead of a move to their new stadium next term.
The Colchester fans also got to bid farewell to another old specimen with Teddy Sheringham, who retires at the end of the season, getting a second-half run-out - his first appearance since February.
But it was Cresswell's scrappy goal, in first-half stoppage time, which fittingly won a scrappy game .
Rory Delap launched yet another long throw into the penalty area and although Cresswell's point-blank header was saved by Dean Gerken, Liam Lawrence's shot hit his team-mate's knee and rebounded in.
Colchester know they will definitely be leaving the Coca-Cola Championship back to League One after two seasons.
"We wanted to say goodbye to the old ground and all we could do it put in a performance to give people some happy memories," said manager Geraint Williams, who will lead his side out in a new 10,000-seater stadium next term.
"I think we played magnificently and we dealt with all but one of their long throws into the box, and that has cost us and won the game for Stoke."
ends
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Buckingham leaves Nix for Stoke
Palace confirm Pulis appointment
