Sunday 22 April 2018 17:58, UK
Paul Lambert insists Stoke will fight until survival is impossible as their hopes were dented following a 1-1 draw with Burnley on Sunday.
Ashley Barnes cancelled out Badou Ndiaye's opener at the bet365 Stadium, leaving Stoke four points off safety with three games remaining.
Though survival looks unlikely, Lambert praised Stoke's fans for backing the team, with games against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Swansea to come.
He told Sky Sports: "They've been brilliant, the supporters, they've backed us. There's one thing, when you look at the football club the way it is, you wouldn't think we're in the position we're in the way they get behind us.
"Until it's mathematically impossible for us to do, we'll keep fighting. Football is a tough game, no game is easy, no game is a given, but until someone tells me this fight is over, we'll keep going.
Lambert rued Mame Biram Diouf's missed chance to make it 2-0 just before half-time on Sunday, but refused to criticise any of his players, and said Stoke have been unlucky of late.
He told Sky Sports: "I think the big moment was Diouf's moment in the first half, towards the end. I think if we'd gone in 2-0 up at half time I don't think anybody could have begrudged us of that.
"Badou scores a fantastic goal for us, we looked threatening, and then came the big chance. That was a big moment, and at 1-0 you're never quite sure.
"It's important, I'm not going to stand and criticise him for anything at all, he might have pulled the trigger earlier, first time, but that's the story of our season. We've had some big moments where we might have taken our chances better.
"We've had some luck against us, but the actual endeavour and the work rate, especially of Mame, has been exceptional."
