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Few people embrace a cup competition more warmly than Roberto Mancini and his love affair with England’s most historic version is still aglow.
It is appropriate that the next instalment of his passion should unfold on Valentine’s Day when the sixth round FA Cup draw will take place though his side will need all its heart after conceding home advantage after this less than dynamic draw.

Mancini is an avid devourer of the knockout format of the game having won the Coppa Italia no fewer than six times as a player and four as a manager but his ardour may be tested to the full in the replay.

City are no strangers to the sixth round of the FA Cup having reached the last eight in successive seasons in 2005-06, 2006-07 only to have been sent packing by West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers and they really should have been in the hat alone given the weight of possession they enjoyed.

However, there was a crucial lack of a cutting edge and Stoke were the ones celebrating at the final blast of Mark Clattenburg’s whistle.

It is said that familiarity breeds contempt and if that is the case then disregard could be the theme of the night at the Britannia Stadium in the next couple of weeks.

Tuesday will see the third meeting since Boxing Day for the two sides with the plot of this particular tale of two Cities still open to twists and turns.