ANDY KING was left frustrated once again at Town's inability to convert chances.

The manager did not feel his team had played well but more clinical finishing could have punished against an average-looking Stoke City side.

He said: "If we had converted one of the five or so chances we had in the first half then Stoke have got problems.

"But once you go 1-0 down it is very hard, particularly when you have only scored 18 goals away from home all season.

"However, we are still miles ahead of where we were this time last year. We got well beaten at Stoke last season and looked like amateurs.

"It was a more even game this time and I wasn't totally disappointed but sadly for us, the first goal was swung things in their favour."

Although unhappy with City's first goal, it was the situation at the other which left the manager irritated.

He said: "Whenever a ball went into their box we were never on the end of it."

The Town boss said his decision to deploy Matt Heywood in attack was to give the attack more presence.

He said: "It would have been difficult for Youngy to cope with four big, strong defenders at the back.

"I experimented but make no mistake, if we had needed three points I would not have changed the system that has brought us the most success.

"I thought Nathan Edwards competed well, Richard McKinney's handling was okay and I wanted to see Paul Edwards start.

"But you have to remember that Stoke have spent a fortune whereas I have spent nothing. And yet there was not much between the teams."

Despite the pain of defeat, there was still time for King to see the funny side.

He said: "They had so many foreign names in their side, I thought this was the first leg of a European Cup tie."

Man of the match Adam Willis said: "I thought we more than matched them for an hour.

"The lads who came in gave everything and full marks to Richard McKinney in goal. But once we went behind, we just couldn't find a way back. It is just a shame we could not turn pressure into goals."