TONY PULIS has confirmed he will keep faith with the same starting eleven which picked up a superb 1-0 victory at Fulham for this Sunday's final game of the season against Premier League Championship hopefuls Manchester United.
Speaking at this morning's pre-match press conference the City boss said it would be unfair to make any changes to a side which has shown great character in bouncing back from the heavy defeat at Chelsea two weeks ago.
"It will be the same team and I think that is only fair on the lads who have done so well for us against Everton and Fulham," he told stokecityfc.com. "The only change may be Abdoulaye Faye coming back in on to the bench after overcoming his recent injury.
"To go out there after that hugely disappointing day at Chelsea and show so much character and spirit and pick up two great results tells you everything about our players. The lads who have done so well in the last two games deserve to go out there on Sunday and hopefully put in one last big effort, but we know how difficult the game is going to be.
He adds: "Hopefully we will have learned our lessons from Chelsea, but it is still difficult if the likes of Wayne Rooney are right on top of their games. The big sides can turn teams over if they aren't at 100% so we have got to go there be strong and keep doing what we have done over the last couple of games."
Sir Alex Ferguson's side know nothing less than a victory and a slip up by Chelsea at home to Wigan would be suffice for them to retain their Championship crown, and whilst Pulis admits the odds are against the Red Devils, he is convinced the Scotsman will eventually lead them to a record 19th league title.
"I think it's inevitable that he will do it," he says. "Whether that is this season or next season or another season remains to be seen. For me he is the greatest manager this country has ever seen. To keep them at the top and competing year in year out in both the Premier League and in Europe is remarkable.
"He has had to keep moving forward with the times and I think he has had to rebuild his squad four or five times and that really takes some doing. He is a great man and a great manager; someone I have a huge amount of respect for. That doesn't mean I don't want to go there and beat them on Sunday though."
