return to Bescot Stadium since his transfer to Coventry over a year ago.. .unfortunately a stomach virus only allowed him to play 15 minutes of the match.

Lightbourne, playing just his second match following a thigh strain which kept him out for three games, went down with food poisoning two days before the Walsall match.

And though he was feeling better the morning of the match, he played only 15 minutes before he started to feel unwell again and was substituted. Stoke City, the Second Division leaders going into the match, lost 1-0 to slip to third as both Fulham and Walsall moved ahead of them.

"I got a very good reception from the Walsall crowd,'' said Lightbourne, who left the club in the summer of 1997 after spending four years there.

"I guess they appreciated what I had done for them while I was there. When I went on the pitch they were singing my name. It's always difficult for a player to go back to his old club and play -- sometimes it's easier when you play at your own ground.'' Lightbourne recognised some familiar faces in his old team, with three of the eight players still there from his days with Walsall actually making Saturday's team.

"Five were not in the team, either injured or suspended,'' Lightbourne explained.

"I got a chance to speak to the chairman, the manager Ray Graydon, who was coach when I was there, and Paul Taylor, the general manager who I know very well.'' Lightbourne left Walsall to pursue his ambition of playing at a higher level, and now he finds his former team challenging his new team for promotion to the First Division.

"They played well on the day. I guess their squad is going to be tested over the next couple of weeks when we have a tough Christmas period,'' he said.

Lightbourne, who is over his recent illness and trained on Monday, expects to be back in action this weekend when Stoke take on fourth-placed Preston North End, who are seven points behind them. Victory for Stoke would put the top three teams 10 points ahead of the pack.

On Monday, Lightbourne and Shawn Goater clash for the first time since the end of last season when Stoke travel to Manchester City, who have slumped to mid-table.

"Right now we are third but we could end up back on top by Saturday,'' Lightbourne said.

"Fulham have a game in hand, and everyone expects them to be there, but it's just a matter of us being consistent, winning our home games and picking up points when we are away from home.''