Sat 20th Mar - Britannia Stadium
By Carla Hilton Last updated: 1st October 2008
Pulis: No room for sour players
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has told his players they will be 'on their bike' if they bring any negative vibes to the dressing room.
The Potters boss has said he will not stand for any fringe players complaining about being left on the bench
Pulis says midfielder Salif Diao is a shining example of the fact that everyone eventually gets their chance.
Diao has figured in back-to-back fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea after an initial slow start - proof that persistence pays off when it comes to showing eagerness.
"It's a remarkable achievement for Salif to come back the way he has, but he is a top player," Pulis told the Sentinel.
"He's been outstanding in his last two games," he added.
"It's not only his performance, but his demeanour around the place. He's been absolutely first class.
"Even at the beginning of the season when he was fit and didn't get into the 16 for one of the home games, he always put the team first because he's a smashing kid."
Pulis says he expects all of his players to show the same enthusiasm and determination, saying: "We cannot have people getting despondent.
"We have got to have people trying to pull together, whether or not they are playing.
"If we get one or two who are a little bit sour, we've got to move them on."
The City boss says what works at one club should work at another, as it does with the likes of Chelsea.
"I was speaking to them at Chelsea the other day," he added. "They have fantastic players who are not in the team, but apparently they are so good around the place and so positive about other players."

Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Thompson
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Pulis
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Redknapp
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Gudjohnsen
Shawcross on return to action
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - Le Tissier
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - O'Neill
Stoke 0-0 Aston Villa - Pulis
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Stoke |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Hull |
| Sunday 11th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Stoke |
| Wednesday 14th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Stoke |
| Saturday 17th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Bolton |
| Sunday 25th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:15 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| Saturday 1st May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Everton |
| Sunday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Stoke |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 10th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Sunday 7th March | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 24th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Stoke 3 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 16th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 13th February | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Man City 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunday 24th January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Stoke 3 - 1 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Tuesday 5th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 3 - 2 Fulham | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Stoke 3 - 1 York | |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wigan | |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 Stoke | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Everton | 29 | 42 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | 38 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 29 | 36 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 29 | 34 |
| 13 | Bolton Wanderers | 30 | 32 |
Pictures from Saturday's Premier League action where Arsenal out-muscle West Ham to go top.
Europe's first 3D TV channel, Sky 3D, will launch with Man United v Chelsea on Saturday April 3.
Tottenham battled to a 2-1 win at 10-man Stoke, despite a crazy passage of play from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Tony Pulis was left fuming with referee Mike Dean after Stoke's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.
Phil Thompson was impressed by Tottenham's fringe players as they won at Stoke.
Arsenal beat West Ham to go top of the table, Iain Dowie started his Hull City reign with a dramatic defeat and Spurs tightened their grip on fourth.
Tony Pulis will 'not make a big deal' out of Tuncay Sanli's response to being substituted.