Potters march on past target

So the Potters sail past their target of last season's tally of 45 points with a game to spare with a good win against the Europa League finalists and helped to banish any lingering memories of that defeat just up the road in Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.

Tony Pulis had set himself and the team the aim of being only the second club in Premier League history to surpass their first season's points total and after the stuttering displays over the past few weeks it did look as though it would be a dream rather than reality.

It was predictable that the winning goal, with just seven minutes remaining, would come from some typical neat footwork from Ricardo Fuller who danced into the penalty area and followed that up with a cross to our 'player of the season', Matty Etherington, who hammered the ball home.

Tony Pulis was obviously beside himself after the game when he spoke to Nigel Johnson:

Every Stoke supporter, wherever they are in the world, can be proud of the players and the performances this year.

'To turn up at Fulham, who've played their best team, in the last but one game of the season and get the result is absolutely fantastic.' BBC: Pulis proud

The result takes us past Blackburn, Fulham and Sunderland and will help build the confidence levels ahead of the incredibly tricky match against Man United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

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