Stoke City: Potters need at least three away wins, says Pulis
Premier League
Newcastle United v Stoke City (3pm)
by Martin Spinks
TONY Pulis has declared that at least three away victories – starting at Newcastle tomorrow – is a winning recipe for Premier League survival.
Stoke head to Tyneside boasting just two points from a possible 21 on their travels after five defeats and two draws – at Liverpool and Wigan.
But Pulis insists his travel-sick side is better away from home than their modest record suggests.
"We are desperate for a result away from home," said Pulis.
"It's very important psychologically that we can do that as quickly as possibly.
"Our players have competed away from home, but sometimes you just need that bit of luck and a decision going for you.
"I think we've done OK, but things have just not dropped for us. There's three or four where we could have won and we need to win a least three away from home to stay up."
Stoke confront a Newcastle side back on an even keel, it seems, as they now enjoy relative stability under Joe Kinnear following the near civil war provoked by Kevin Keegan's departure earlier in the season.
"Joe has really got the team organised," Pulis added, "whereas Kevin let them have freedom on the park.
"Each has their own way and that's not a criticism of Kevin or Joe.
"I spoke to Gareth Southgate and he said they are now a lot more organised and in a system that suits the players.
"I think Kevin was in a bit of a false position with a lot of injuries, but now Joe has got his best players back on the pitch, such as Mark Viduka."
Pulis dismissed any possibility that last January's 4-1 mauling at Newcastle in a third round FA Cup replay could influence events tomorrow afternoon – or that his players would suffer a long-lasting hangover in the wake of Tuesday's agonising Carling Cup exit against Derby.
"Every game is different," he said. "Newcastle is a great club with a great stadium.
"We smelt it last year in the FA Cup and I hope we can put in a performance and that it is our day, not theirs.
"We need a reaction off of the players after Tuesday. They were desperately disappointed to concede a penalty in injury time – it was a massive disappointment for everybody.
"I know it will be difficult at Newcastle and they are passionate supporters who love their football club. But I think our supporters have proved they are the best," he grinned.
Stoke will field up to three former Newcastle players tomorrow in Andy Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye and Amdy Faye, while Danny Higginbotham and Rory Delap have both plied their trade down the road at Sunderland.
But Pulis has mixed feelings about the emotional effect such connections have on players when facing familiar foe – and denied Salif Diao was recalled at Liverpool because of his Anfield connections.
"As a player," he recalled, "I always enjoyed going back to a club I had been at.
"I played Salif at Liverpool, but if we had been playing Doncaster Rovers that day I would have still played him because he was ready to be played anyway."
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