Source: SKY_Sports
Delap reflects on key moment
Rory Delap believes the seeds of Stoke's survival push were sown in their first home game of the season.
The Potters secured their Premier League status with a 2-1 win at Hull City on Saturday, making a mockery of those that had condemned them to the drop before a ball had even been kicked.
Tony Pulis' side have proven more than capable of mixing it among England's elite and can now look forward to cementing their top-flight standing next term.
That is a prospect which excites Delap, who insists everyone at the Britannia Stadium believed avoiding relegation was possible after they came from behind to secure a 3-2 win over Aston Villa in just their second game of the campaign.
"It is a tremendous achievement for us to be safe with two games remaining. We didn't want to go to Arsenal on the last day, needing a win," said the midfielder.
"Everyone was telling us we were safe on 39 points but we were keen to get over the 40-point mark. To do so at Hull was something special. We were just glad to put it to bed, especially as a lot of people had written us off at the start of the season.
"After we lost our first game at Bolton, where we were pummelled (3-1), some bookies began paying out.
"But then we beat Aston Villa, coming from behind to get a winner so late on... that, if you like, was a turning point.
"To get our first win in the second game was great and we have built from there."
