Tony Pulis and his team robbed Leicester City of two points tonight.
But in his post-match press conference (delivered while standing), he showered his opponents with adoration, speaking for many football fans in the process.
He dispensed with his own team's achievement in wrestling a point off the League leaders with a few cursory words of praise. Instead he devoted his opening remarks to announcing his passionate support for Leicester City in the title race.
He said it would be 'fantastic' for everybody in football if Leicester City won the League this season. He said it would a bigger shock than when Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest won the 1977-78 League title, having been promoted only the previous season.
Now the game is over, I just hope Leicester City win the League. A long time ago, when Forest actually got promoted from the Second Division to the First Division and won the League then, this will be the most surprising Premier League... shock that has happened since then. And it's a bigger shock if they do it because the divide between the clubs who have and the clubs who haven't is absolutely enormous. And it would be just absolutely fantastic for everybody in football if they can do it. And I'm now supporting Leicester City until the end of the season - apart from West Bromwich Albion!
The Forest example has been referenced heavily over the course of the season. We spoke to Daniel Taylor, the Guardian's Chief Football writer and the author of 'I Believe in Miracles', an account of Nottingham Forest's astounding triumphs under Clough in the late 70s.
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