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Stoke City boss Tony Pulis ready for relegation battle

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments255

Stoke are in a dogfight, admits Pulis

Manager Tony Pulis has challenged his Stoke players to "step up to the mark" to ensure the Potters fight their way clear of Premier League relegation.

A saw Stoke drop to 16th in the table, only three points above the drop zone with five games left.

"It is a dogfight with eight or nine teams down there battling," Pulis said.

"But this is when you need characters and you need people to step up to the mark. We need to roll our sleeves up."

Goals from Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick saw United restore their 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League and deepen Stoke's relegation worries.

Pulis's side have won only one of their past 14 league games, picking up just one point out of a possible 21, and face four of their fellow strugglers - Queens Park Rangers, Norwich, Sunderland and Southampton - in their final five matches.

"Now it is a five-game season, we have to rally the lads, rally the crowd," Pulis added.

"Every year since we have been in this league it has been tough. What we need is a break, a little bit of luck. I am very confident we can get out of trouble, it is just making sure the players and everyone at the club sticks together. The season starts now."

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255 comments

  • Comment posted by User0170287344, at 09:22 15 Apr 2013

    What a dull league it would be if everyone played the same style of football. We should be encouraging the difference in styles (as long as the game is played within the rules).

  • Comment posted by Archwaygooner, at 11:11 15 Apr 2013

    Stoke can barely call themselves a football team. 28 goals is a joke, and just shows up their intent to play anti football which is what theu have done since 2008.

    They've gone stale and now even their fans are bored of it. Hope they go down.

  • Comment posted by User0671732213, at 11:14 15 Apr 2013

    I actually feel bad for the stoke players. None of them are technically poor, they are all strong, and clearly fit. People moan at the likes of Adam, but he can clearly play good football such as at Blackpool. I wouldn't say Pulis is the problem, but he has spent a shedload of money and is pretty tactically one dimensional. The way they set up to play away is frankly depressing.

  • Comment posted by User0436575052, at 08:25 15 Apr 2013

    The day Stoke are relegated will be a win for football.

  • Comment posted by Arejay, at 08:31 15 Apr 2013

    If Stoke are relegated the "EPL" will lose one of the very few teams who do not surround the ref but simply let the captain talk to him, and who do not roll around on the floor to get opposition players booked. You may not like Stoke but to suggest they played bone crunching neanderthal football yesterday is nonsense. Look at the bookings and fouls for both teams.

  • Comment posted by User0173240029, at 11:11 15 Apr 2013

    Walters is a legend. A beacon of hope to all park footballers because all the time there are managers like Pulis, hard work will always triumph over a modicum of talent...

  • Comment posted by User0526856790, at 08:35 15 Apr 2013

    Stoke are in the EPL on merit, their style of play, management etc is irrelevant. It is great to have teams like them & Wigan in the league and shows anything is possible under good ownership. No team has a right to be in the EPL whatever size they are.

    SCFC - you have my full support.

  • Comment posted by User0173240029, at 10:15 15 Apr 2013

    Stoke go 2-0 down at home in 66th, desperate for points in a relegation fight. Pulis brings a striker off the bench in the 77th minute and then another in the 87th minute...is that "we gave it a good go" Tony? Oh dear.

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 13:37 15 Apr 2013

    @142 I would hate it if Liverpool adopted the Stoke style of play even if it meant a top 4 finish. We may not be challenging for Europe this season but at least a lot of the football is pleasing on the eye even if the results aren't pleasing for the heart :)

  • Comment posted by User0360177692, at 11:13 15 Apr 2013

    ''The season Starts Now'' where have you been for the last the last 8 1/2 months Tony?..... time to go ''a break a liitle bit of luck'' starting to sound like a draining sink, Good luck Stoke Fans

  • Comment posted by 1878onwards, at 10:19 15 Apr 2013

    Take away the free kicks and throw ins...and Stoke contribute nothing to the game of football.
    The biggest cheer from Stoke fans yesterday was when the won a throw in level with the Utd 18yd box...and that sums their game up.
    Never seen a taller team in all my life.
    ..

  • Comment posted by User0626117525, at 10:26 15 Apr 2013

    Charlie Adam looked average yesterday, which is what I think he is

  • Comment posted by jarvish, at 13:24 15 Apr 2013

    Regardless of the rights and wrongs of how Stoke play, it baffles me how a team whose sole tactic is long ball sends Rory Delap, their most potent weapon, out on loan?

    Management error.

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 09:25 15 Apr 2013

    I think they got enough points early on in the season so should be ok.

    I have to say I wouldn't miss their style of football if they were relegated. Initially it was nice to see a team get promoted and establish themselves in the Premier League but they haven't improved at all in the last couple of years.

  • Comment posted by User0811232511, at 13:38 15 Apr 2013

    They can't score goals to save their lives yet have two proven international class strikers on the bench. Crouch (and certainly Owen) may be past their best but I guarantee they would have scored more than the woeful 'New Heskey' Jones and 'Barn Door' Walters... but no, let's leave them on the bench because the others have greater 'work rate' or similar 'pragmatic' nonsense...

  • Comment posted by User0184442512, at 13:43 15 Apr 2013

    162. Guy

    Spot on mate. TP loves to play his 'runners' rather than his more technically gifted players. Shotton is a prime example. He can run with an attacking player, make a cracking tackle but get him on the wing ready to cross then he fluffs it like a 4 year old. Useless!

    161. bilbo

    I think any club would hate to play the way we do mate, it ain't pretty!

  • Comment posted by User0626117525, at 10:14 15 Apr 2013

    I remember Charlton fans wanting " to move to the next stage" when Curbishley was under fire , be careful what you wish for

  • Comment posted by User0209727941, at 13:29 15 Apr 2013

    On the plus side this finally puts an end to the age old debate.
    'Could Messi do it on a cold winter night away at Stoke?'

  • Comment posted by red_dave, at 10:54 15 Apr 2013

    Hope they go down, wont be missed hoof it up and kick the other team about the pitch, anyone could do his job

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 14:02 15 Apr 2013

    @169 Actually Trigg my Liverpool hating friend if you read my earlier comment you will see i say i don't mind their style of play. If it works for them that is fine with me. I did say i would rather my team didn't play that style.
    And yes i know Liverpool struggle against them and that is for BR to deal with.
    BTW your deliberate mis-spelling of my user name shows your extreme chidishness :)

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