Andy Griffin believes Stoke are better equipped than Derby were last season to beat the drop.
Potters take heart from narrow defeats
Stoke City captain Andy Griffin believes the Potters are better equipped than Derby were last season to beat the drop.
Griffin was a Derby player 12 months ago when they started a run which led to relegation as the worst team in Premier League history.
Despite their current position in the bottom three, Griffin is confident Stoke will not fold in the same way.
"A lot of people would say a defeat is a defeat. But if you lose 1-0 and put in a good performance then, psychologically, it is better than getting steamrollered 6-0," said Griffin.
"We came away from Anfield with a goalless draw whereas, with Derby, we lost there 6-0.
Misfortune
"We are losing games, but that is tending to be through a bit of misfortune or an individual error.
"We are not going a goal or two down and then capitulating and losing by five or six."
Stoke's win over Tottenham last Sunday was only their second league victory since promotion but Griffin believes Tony Pulis's side are holding their own.
He told the
Stoke Sentinel: "I'm not saying we won't get beaten by four or five in a certain game, but it won't be on a regular basis.
"I think there's too much spirit and character here to let that happen."
