Stoke manager Tony Pulis admits confidence has taken a hit after four successive defeats but he is remaining calm about the situation. The Potters have not won for over a month after three losses in the Barclays Premier League and a Carling Cup exit to West Ham. Pulis insists his team are playing better football than at any other time since their return to the top flight in 2008 so expects fortunes to turn around. "We've played very well this year for long periods. We sat down and analysed the Everton game (a 1-0 defeat last weekend) and we played very well," he said. "We had the better opportunities - we played better there than we did last year and we drew last year. I've been through this and the players have been through this. "The first 10 games some of the performances have been very good but results are paramount to what we are trying to achieve. Results are everything in terms of confidence. If you go on a bad run people lose a bit of belief."
Source: PA
Source: PA