GLENN WHELAN knows that Stoke City will have to be on top of their game if they are to get anything from tomorrow's clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Three goals inside the opening 20 minutes meant City slipped to a 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane last season, and the Republic of Ireland star admits it is imperative they avoid making the same mistakes that cost them so dearly 12 months ago.
"We were 3-0 down after 20 minutes last time we were there, so we will definitely be looking to put that right and hopefully make the game go for 90 minutes rather than just the 20 minutes," said the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder.
"If you look at Spurs, the attacking players they have is unbelievable. They will go out and attack, so you don't want to go out too open and be one or two goals down after 10 or 20 minutes and out of the game.
"We need to frustrate them and then try and take the game to them, just like we did at Everton."
With Jermain Defoe joining Robert Huth on the sidelines through suspension, Harry Redknapp is likely to partner Peter Crouch alongside Whelan's international colleague Robbie Keane, someone the City midfielder says has got to be watched carefully.
"If you go back home, all the young lads playing football want to be Robbie Keane. His movement is very good, but he's always scored goals so you have to try to get tight to him to stop him," adds the former Sheffield Wednesday man."
Last Saturday's victory over West Ham United elevated the Potters up to 9th place in the Barclays Premier League, but despite that, Whelan still feels he and his team-mates aren't getting the plaudits they deserve.
"We want to do better than we achieved last season. We still feel we are not getting enough credit for how well we have done, but getting results will only change people's minds.
"I think people know they are in for a tough game when Stoke arrive in town. We don't get run over too often. We have tightened up away from home this season and are looking to get a lot more away wins.
"That was a talking point last year and we don't want that to happen again. In the last couple of away games, at Bolton and Everton, we might have got two wins with a little more luck."
*Tickets are selling fast for Stoke City's local derby with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier League. The Club now has only a limited number of tickets available for the game at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday October 31st.
Tickets are available from the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office and the Potteries Shopping Centre Club Store with Category A prices applying for this game. For more information, call the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office on 0871 663 2007 or you can book online by clicking below:
