TONY PULIS wasted no time in focussing his attention on the next stage of Stoke City’s Barclays Premier League campaign . . . and in doing so he stressed the importance of supporters getting behind the team over the next few weeks.
Pulis travelled straight from Old Trafford to the North East to watch next Saturday’s opponents Sunderland draw their Tyne and Wear derby with ten-man Newcastle United when they grabbed a late equaliser through a Demba Ba own goal.
The visit of Sunderland to the Britannia Stadium begins a period of four home fixtures in six matches after a particularly tough start to the season.
Following Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Manchester United, Pulis stressed that the next few games will be no easier for his side as they aim to put more points on the board after producing some promising performances in the first eight matches.
“That is why we need the supporters right behind us when we take on Sunderland,” commented City’s manager in looking ahead to the forthcoming fixtures. “Every game at this level is a tough one and Saturday will be no different.
“I’ve got tremendous respect for Martin O’Neill and for Sunderland Football Club, and we know that this is going to be a big test for us.
“We’ve had an incredibly tough start to the season and it’s important now that we try to put some points on the board in the next few matches, but people must not under-estimate the size of the task which we face in those games.”
He added: “The supporters have been fantastic whenever we have needed that backing, and I am sure they will do that again.”
City still have a significant number of tickets remaining for the meeting with Sunderland which are currently on general sale.
They can be booked online at scfcdirect.com or can be purchased over the phone by contacting the Ticket Office Hotline on 01782 367599.
Alternatively, they can also be bought in person at the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office or the Club Stores which are located in the Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley and the Roebuck Centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme.