Pulis plans to 'buck the trend'

Pulis: Wants survival

Related links

Teams

• Stoke City

Also see

• Stoke fixtures
• Stoke stats
• Squad list

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is keen for all three of the newly-promoted Premier League clubs to avoid relegation this season.

Pulis' side were joined by Championship winners West Bromwich Albion, who travel to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, and play-off victors Hull City in progressing from the second tier in 2007/08.

And the trio are now hoping to avoid the trend that tends to see clubs make a swift return to the lower echelons following promotion.

West Brom currently occupy bottom spot in the table but Pulis is eager for the Baggies' fortunes to improve, and for Stoke and Hull City's solid starts to continue.

Carson snub

"It would be fantastic for us, or me personally, if all three clubs stay up," Pulis told Sky Sports News.

"That would buck the trend and that would be better for everyone.

"It would give the Premier League a better perspective if teams are not just coming up and being cannon fodder.

"But we have to do it and that is the big thing. That is what we are concentrating on."

Meanwhile, Pulis insists he holds no grudge against West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson, who snubbed a switch to Stoke in favour of a move to The Hawthorns when leaving Liverpool in the summer.

"Scott never played for us and that's history now. He had the opportunity to join us and he's gone to West Brom. That was his choice," concluded Pulis.