Boss Pulis seeking home comforts as Potters bidding to stay on target

STOKE boss Tony Pulis says the club will remain solely focused on its own progress in this unpredictable Barclays Premier League season.

Wolves summed up the nature of a campaign where it seems anyone can beat anyone else on Wednesday night by pulling themselves off the foot of the league with victory against Liverpool at Anfield — the first time Mick McCarthy’s side have won away from home this term.

The Potters have also had some curious results of late, losing their last two games at the Britannia Stadium, which had become something of a fortress since their promotion to the top flight in 2008.

Blackpool triumphed 1-0 there on December 11 and Tuesday saw Fulham, who last won a league fixture on the road in August 2009, claim a 2-0 victory. Stoke host Everton today and with both clubs sat in the middle of a thoroughly congested table, it is unclear how the rest of the season is likely to pan out for either of them.

As far as Pulis is concerned, though, his team are still working their way towards a definite target.

Asked if he thought this was one of the strangest Premier League seasons he had known, Pulis said: “It is different to the two previous years.

“But I think the important thing as a football club is that you focus on what you do, not what other clubs are doing, and that you have a points tally to try to get to.

“We’ve lost a couple of games at home which has been desperately disappointing for us, but our away form this year is much better than what it has been in previous years.”

Stoke are sweating on the fitness of Matty Etherington and Jon Walters.