Stoke City chase tenth despite FA Cup run
Jermaine Pennant has offered an indication of the ambition on display at Stoke by insisting that they are still determined to achieve a top-half Premier League finish despite having an FA Cup Final against Manchester City to look forward to.
The Potters posted one of the results of the season on Sunday by thumping Bolton 5-0 in a semi-final encounter that they started as underdogs and make it into the final for the first time yet Pennant believes that anyone hoping that the distraction will affect their league form will be left disappointed.
He said: "We're looking in front of us and we want to finish in the top ten. Mathematically we might not be safe but we're not looking behind us. We know we're not going to be in a dogfight because we've got some important games at home and we're playing teams below us."
The fixtures that the former Arsenal winger is referring to come at home to Wolves and Wigan and away to Blackpool, though trips to Aston Villa and Manchester City and a clash with Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium ensure that Tony Pulis' side remain [2.8] to improve on last year's 11th place.
Their position pattern since winning promotion to the Premier League bodes well, as they climbed one spot in 2009-10 having finished 12th in their debut campaign, while they are only a point off the pace.
With just five points separating them from Blackpool in 18th, the alternative scenario that several strugglers are hoping for is that their focus will be diverted by their upcoming return to Wembley and they enter the relegation picture, however they are [50.0] outsiders to go down.
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Published: 19 Apr 2011
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