TP: End product must improve

08 November 2012 11:16
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is encouraged by his side's improvement in the Premier League this season - except from in the final third.

Stoke have adapted their style this season, playing with three in midfield with Charlie Adam in an advanced role. That has seen them record more than 50% possession in successive games for the first time ever in the Premier League, but the Potters failed to score in either of those games, against Sunderland and Norwich, and have registered only eight goals in 10 games this season. They host struggling QPR on Saturday and Pulis hopes a good week of training will help them regain their ruthless streak. He said: "The stats are very encouraging, apart from in the final third. That's where we've got to improve. "You never take your foot off the pedal in this division. We could and should have scored more goals in the games so far.

"Charlie Adam's seeing plenty of the ball. If there's a criticism of him, we'd want more end product in the final third.

"You need to win games - that's how you get your confidence. The players have trained really well this week and they're keen. Every game you play, whether in the top division or the bottom division, is a pressure game

"I don't think anybody would have said QPR would have been down there with the players Mark has brought in.

"It's important that everyone stays on our side. If we win, we win, if we don't, we don't. The fans have been great so far."

Source: team_talk