Barnsley's Tom Edwards reveals inspiration from Stoke City long-throw expert Rory Delap and his take on Towelgate at Bolton Wanderers

In his time as a player in the Potteries, Delap's booming long-throws were a major weapon during the successful Tony Pulis era from 2006-13 which saw City become a force in the Premier League.

Edwards' own prowess from throw-ins was spotted by Delap on his return to Stoke as a coach and his coaching helped the player improve his technique, he has revealed.

He said: "It was at Stoke. I used to work the line from full-back and Ryan Delap came back as a coach and in training, he saw me doing that and obviously, it's kind of natural (for me) and he showed me a technique he used to use and it has worked ever since then and I have got quite a few assists from it. It's a good asset to have during a game.

"He makes my throw look very small. He’s got a very good technique with the way he does it and he’s shown that over the years in his career. It's a massive asset that he had."

Edwards' long-throws caused a bizarre incident in the first-half of Barnsley's FA Cup tie at Bolton and controversy.

Referee Carl Boyeson confiscated the towel Edwards had been using to wipe the ball in very wet conditions before a set-piece.

Edwards' deliveries and the visitors' tactics were a source of contention in the game between the rival camps with Barnsley chief Michael Duff and Bolton counterpart Ian Evatt having heated words at the end.

Edwards added: "They changed our towels for their towels and put them in a massive puddle. I went over to dry the ball and the referee said we can't use any more towels. I tried to explain the situation, but he was not having it. In the second half, we managed to change them, but didn't get a chance to take a (long) throw in.

"Things like that are always going to happen and I am sure we'd do the same if a team comes to our place and had that asset in a game. I understand why we have done it and have seen it plenty of times. It's one of them."