Relegation not a worry for a Stoke side full of fighting spirit

Having thrown away a two-goal lead on Tuesday night, Stoke City managed to salvage the three points thanks to Dean Whitehead’s 85th minute strike in a performance that showed encouraging signs.

Tony Pulis has come in for some criticism this week after his constant complaints, many of which are justified, surrounding refereeing decisions going against his team, but the Stoke boss will be impressed by his side’s character.

Stoke’s win has moved them up to 15th in the Premier League, three points clear of the relegation zone but seven losses from 12 games this season has seen Pulis’ side become candidates for relegation.

At 5/1 to be relegated, Stoke have six teams ahead of them in the relegation betting market and on the basis of their display against Birmingham, the spirit of the side should pull them through.

Stoke have now taken 10 points from games in which they’ve gone a goal down, and it’s that fighting spirit that should save Pulis’ side from spending next season in the Championship.

Liverpool are next up for Stoke in a run of three tough games for the Potters, but Stoke have beaten Liverpool at the Britannia on the past two occasions and they are 11/4 to beat Liverpool on Saturday.

The following two games see Stoke travel to the Hawthorns to face another potential relegation candidate in West Bromwich Albion before hosting Manchester City at home.

But the return of Ricardo Fuller is a huge boost to Pulis as Kenwyne Jones continues on his barren run, and Fuller’s goal last night can spur a goalscoring run.

Pulis will be targeting an unbeaten spell over those three games and Fuller and Jones will be key to Stoke achieving that feat.

Blackpool, Wigan and Wolves continue to be odds on for relegation. See the full Barclays Premier League football betting odds here.