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But no one in a red-and-white striped shirt answered his wishes on a day when former Stoke manager Pulis (inset, above) was the happier of the two gaffers.
Pulis could afford a smile after 90-plus minutes of a shut-out with both keepers, Stoke’s Jack Butland and his opposite number Darren Randolph, never seriously troubled.
It was all tame stuff until the final whistle when Stoke substitute James Mcclean – barracked and booed – had to be protected by stewards back to the dressing room after Boro fans gave him plenty of verbals.
Rowett (inset, below) had a few choice words himself – but all clean cut. He said: “I wouldn’t say I’m pleased with a point at home, but I was quite pleased with the performance.
“We had the lion’s share of the game and it was another clean sheet against a side not many will get anything off. It just wasn’t to be and you have to give credit to Middlesbrough.”
And the Mcclean abuse? “If he has been goaded by the Boro fans, it’s always going to happen. It’s old news,” Rowett added.
Pulis said: “They were very difficult conditions. You never forget how windy it is here in the winter.
“But I’m pleased to come away with a point. The lads gave it everything.”
It was a familiar sight for Pulis as he exited the tunnel and took to the pitch at a club where he enjoyed two spells and led Stoke into Europe.
The reception was warm and generous as baseball-capped Pulis headed for the away dugout, clapping his old faithful fans furiously.
Then it was straight to his old haunt, the technical area, from where he flinched as his former club should have taken the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock.
Benik Afobe, put through by the energetic Tom Ince, had the goal in clear sight but blazed high and over much to his and the Stoke fans’ frustration. Afobe’s glaring miss stunned Boro into action and Martin Braithwaite darted in and aimed for the top corner, only for Butland to comfortably hold his shot. Stewart Downing brought Butland into action again as the Stoke No.1 stopped his effort with a one-handed save to his left. The game screamed out for a touch of class and it came courtesy of Ince, who picked up lurking on the right. In a flash, Ince curled the ball into the box with a delightful swing of his left boot only to see Ryan Shawcross having his header saved. The breakthrough should have come in the 66th minute when Jordan Hugill homed in one-on-one with Butland. Hugill kept his shot low but it wasn’t the best of finishes and Butland saved with his boot. Nine minutes later, Butland’s trusty left foot saved the day again when Jonny Howson fired through a ruck of players and thought he’d found the bottom corner. But, like everyone else at the bet 365, Howson drew a blank.