Source: Eurosport
Critics fired us up - Potters coach
Stoke coach Dave Kemp believes the club's detractors this season have only served to fire up the players and inspire their charge up the table.
Stoke were written off as relegation certainties after winning promotion from the Championship last season, but they are currently above both Hull and West Brom in 13th place.
A win against Newcastle this weekend would all but confirm their survival and Kemp reckons the Potters' critics have actually helped them.
He told the Stoke Sentinel: "I think people have written us off and that builds a 'we'll show them' type of attitude.
"We've had that, but we even had that in the Championship, to be honest. It is nothing new to us.
"It is nice if someone writes something good about us, but if not, it doesn't matter. It is water off a duck's back. We will just keep doing what we do.
"The players' attitude has been spot on. We have had a couple of away performances when we haven't been up to speed, but I think we showed last Saturday (against West Brom) that we can perform away from home.
"We got he result we deserved. Now, hopefully, we can maintain our home performances.
"Next up at the Britannia Stadium are Newcastle and Kemp says Stoke are quite happy for the spotlight to remain on Alan Shearer and the Magpies providing the points stay in North Staffordshire once more.
He added: "The spotlight won't be on us, but that doesn't concern us. We aren't looking to be in the limelight, we are just looking to get the points.
"Newcastle are a fantastic club and it was a pleasure to go there this season and play in their stadium.
"They are one of the great clubs in this country, but they will find it an experience coming here as well."
