Sun 8th Nov - Kingston Communications 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."

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Stoke 2-2 Wolves - Pulis
Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke - Pulis
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Stoke vs Wigan |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Stoke |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Stoke |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 5th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Fulham |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Stoke |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Man City |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Sunderland vs Stoke |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Blackburn |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Stoke |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 0 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 1 West Ham | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Stoke 4 - 3 Blackpool | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Leyton Orient 0 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Burnley | |
| Friday 7th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Valladolid | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Derby 2 - 2 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Preston 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Friday 17th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| St Pauli 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Sunday 12th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Newcastle Town 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 11 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 10 | 14 |
Pictures from Sunday's Premier League action where Hull snatch victory and Chelsea beat Man United.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson fears for Phil Brown - and says Hull couldn't be facing a worse game than home to Stoke.
West Ham's FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool in 2006. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
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