TONY PULIS has told Stoke City supporters to start preparing for another season in the Barclays Premier League by declaring: "We're as good as safe now."
Victory over relegation battlers Hull City took the Potters to 42 points and lifted them back into the top half of the Premier League table as they now set their sights on improving upon last season's creditable finish of twelve position with a haul of 45 points.
Although City can still be caught mathematically, Pulis is delighted with the achievement of passing the all-important 40-point mark with six games still remaining.
"We can start looking forward to another season in the Premier League now, although I still want us to beat last season's points tally from this position," he said.
"It's a fantastic achievement to pass 40 points with still six games to go and it would crown an excellent season for us to get to 46 points or more, especially when you take into account the fact that we also reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
"We want to build upon this and keep on improving as a club, so it is important that we finish as strongly as possible to have that to take into next season."
He added: "So I am sure that those supporters who haven't yet booked their Season Ticket for another season of Premier League football can do so now."
It was quite ironic that goals from Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence settled the game in City's favour, just as they had done at the KC Stadium last season when a victory on Humberside also took the Potters to the 42-point mark late in the season.
"We got off to an excellent start and Ric took his goal ever so well, but full credit to Hull, they gave it everything and made it difficult for us," said Pulis.
"They had a ten minute spell in the second half when they had a lot of possession, but much of it was in front of us and they didn't really create anything."
He added: "The injury to George Boateng was unfortunate, but no blame can be apportioned to Tunny. He was unaware where the player was when he attempted the overhead kick. It was a nasty, nasty injury and nobody wants to see that."
Boateng was stretchered off and taken to North Staffordshire Hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone after the incident in the closing stages.
Hull's Football Management Consultant Iain Dowie said: "It was a big blow to us because I felt we were in the ascendency at the time.
"Everyone around him who could see the injury was in a state of shock, even Tuncay. There was certainly no malice about the challenge though.
"There was a lot of blood and it took time for the medical staff to clear his airways. That is why it caused those around him a lot of concern.
He added: "We will have to wait for the outcome of X-rays to determine the full extent of the injury, but it does look a nasty one."
