Source: SKY_Sports
Pulis praise for 12th man
Tony Pulis hailed Stoke City's supporters and feels they have been vital to their battle to lift themselves out of the bottom three.[LNB] The Stoke faithful lifted the roof off of the Britannia Stadium on Saturday afternoon and urged their side to overcome Middlebrough.[LNB]The buzzing atmosphere paid off with six minutes to go when a characteristic Rory Delap thrown-in was headed home by centre-back Ryan Shawcross to snatch the win.[LNB]"It was a bit of a scrappy game at times but in the second half the supporters were absolutely amazing, they really drove the players on," Pulis told Sky Sports.[LNB]"They have been unbelievable this year and it's a massive help for us, a massive, massive help for the team.[LNB]"Every game is a big game and every win that you manage to get helps you along the way and it's a big result for us."[LNB]Both sides started scrappily with neither team looking convincing upfront. [LNB]Potters striker James Beattie had a great chance to fire home from close range but it brought out the best from Australian Brad Jones.[LNB]Powerful strikeMiddlesbrough hit back with a free header from Tony McMahon and a powerful strike from Tuncay Sanli but both efforts failed to trouble Thomas Sorensen.[LNB]Stoke supporters cheered their side on and raised the roof when Shawcross headed home.[LNB]Despite their underdog status, Pulis believes if City can recreate the same home form on their travels they have a great chance of staying in the Premier League, having now gone three points clear of the drop zone.[LNB]"We know its still going to be very, very difficult what we need to do is get a result, we're desperate to get a win away and keep the home form going.[LNB]"But there's so much tension in the games, so much pressure on people that at times you're going to get scrappy games.[LNB]"The important thing is you keep working hard and if we have to grind results out, we have to grind results out," the 51-year-old added.[LNB]Stoke now have a fortnight's break before they take on bottom of the table West Bromich Albion.[LNB]
