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Post by Top Stopper on Apr 10, 2008 19:20:57 GMT
Even at 2-0 down," he said, "the crowd was on their feet clapping us on. Since I've been here, they've been smashing."
Smashing!! Bit of TP rubbing off there ;D
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Post by Top Stopper on Apr 10, 2008 19:21:27 GMT
Glenn Whelan insists there is still belief and bottle in the dressing room as Stoke set about repairing this week's potentially mortal blow to their chances of automatic promotion.
City's midfield newcomer claims they do possess the character to resurrect their top-two credentials by bouncing back from Monday's 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.
"I don't think it's nerves," protested the 24-year-old Dubliner, who was yesterday named in Giovanni Trapattoni's first Republic of Ireland squad.
"Obviously that's what people talk about when you don't win games, but we have just got to worry about Saturday's game at Coventry now.
"There's still going to be a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season and it's up to us to get as many points as we can from the last four games.
"There's still belief in the squad that we can do it. We've still got a good chance to go up automatically and that's what we want to do. We still want to finish in the top one or two," Whelan added.
Stoke's cause was helped last night by Barnsley's shock 3-0 victory at promotion chasing Watford.
Kayode Odejayi grabbed a goal in each half to lift the Tykes out of the Championship relegation zone, while former Crewe defender Steve Foster was also on target.
Victory for the Hornets would have seen them go top of the Championship and Stoke pushed down to fourth.
As it is, the Potters remain third on 69 points, one ahead of Watford. Both have now played 42 games.
Whelan, who netted his first Stoke goal on Monday with a spectacular late volley, paid tribute to the loyalty of City's supporters during the darker moments of their reverse against promotion rivals Palace.
"Even at 2-0 down," he said, "the crowd was on their feet clapping us on. Since I've been here, they've been smashing."
Stoke will be roared on by one of their largest away followings of the season when they attempt to clamber back into the automatic promotion places at Coventry on Saturday.
The Potters have sold 2,700 tickets of their 3,500 allocation for the Ricoh Arena.
The game is also a huge one for Chris Coleman's relegation-threatened Sky Blues, who are averaging 18,647 in the 32,000 capacity Ricoh this season.
Meanwhile, midfielder Salif Diao is in contention to return for the potentially crucial home game with promotion rivals Bristol City in nine days' time.
Diao has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury in the 1-1 home draw with Blackpool on March 22.
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Apr 11, 2008 16:27:19 GMT
dont let all our players be like pulis we would be screwed
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