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Ryan Shawcross says Stoke are 'sleepwalking' towards relegation

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20:  Ryan Shawcross of Stoke gestures during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Stoke City at Amex
Image: Ryan Shawcross says Stoke players have been putting in the effort, but lack quality

Ryan Shawcross says Stoke are "sleepwalking" towards relegation after their hopes of Premier League survival suffered another setback.

Stoke gave up an early lead to draw 1-1 with Burnley and the result leaves Paul Lambert's side four points from safety with only three games remaining.

A win would have moved Stoke within one point of 17th-placed Swansea, but they remain four points above bottom side West Brom.

Lambert rued a miss from Mame Biram Diouf at the end of the first half, but captain Shawcross said: "You can't nail our bad season to one chance.

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"We've been sleepwalking into this, we've been disappointing all season so there's a lot of factors that go into the situation we're in and something needs to change and change quickly.

"We knew what we needed to do and unfortunately we didn't. The effort was there, the endeavour was there but the quality was probably lacking. We've just not got that person who can put the ball in the back of the net, and unfortunately we keep conceding late goals."

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Highlights: Stoke 1-1 Burnley

Stoke could be relegated next weekend if they lose at Liverpool and other results go against them. Before that fixture, Jurgen Klopp's side face Roma in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

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On how Stoke will cope with the threat of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, Shawcross said: "Hope they're rested. We know what we're up against.

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Paul Lambert insists Stoke will keep fighting for survival until it is mathematically impossible

"Obviously they've got two massive games in the Champions League, we're sandwiched in between that so hopefully their focus is away from our game.

"We've got to win all three. It's difficult but it's not mathematically impossible yet so we go on fighting and we carry on hoping to pick up those three points. Football's a strange sport and it throws up these surprises."

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