Stoke manager Tony Pulis is turning a deaf ear to the club's critics and advising his chairman to do the same.
Saturday's comfortable 4-0 win over Newcastle came on the back of their FA Cup sixth-round success which set up a semi-final against Bolton at Wembley. Yet Stoke continue to be derided for their physical approach and the sniping after the cup victory against West Ham got under chairman Peter Coates' skin so much that he spoke out publicly.
"I will speak to Peter and tell him off," Pulis quipped. "In this country we take far too much notice of what other people say instead of believing in what you do and believing your own eyes. If people want to say things about you, whether they are complimentary or not, it makes no difference. You have got to get on and do what you believe in."
He added: "That has always been my philosophy, especially the job I am in. We've had a fantastic period at this club. It has been pretty remarkable. The other thing is the club is solvent and run by a local chairman. It is not a bad model to follow."
Jon Walters made the breakthrough in the eighth minute when he headed in Jermaine Pennant's cross. Pennant then scored his first goal for Stoke at the back post after goalkeeper Steve Harper made a mess of a clearance in the 46th minute.
Three minutes later Danny Higginbotham drove a free-kick through the wall, leaving Harper rooted to the spot. Substitute Ricardo Fuller completed the scoring in stoppage time with a wonderful individual effort after a flick-on from Walters.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew accepts his side are now looking over their shoulders, but he refused to blame veteran defender Sol Campbell for the defeat.
Campbell looked slow to react for the first goal and headed the ball into Pennant's path for the second.
Pardew said: "I do not think Sol Campbell played poorly. I thought he gave a good account of himself."
He added: "We have to make sure we are a whole lot better in our next home game. We have Wolves next and they've had a great victory (against Aston Villa). That's a big match now."
Source: PA
