19th Apr 2013 | Football
One Route To Safety
Stoke’s style of play has come in for criticism but stats show it can be successful against a specific type of opponent.
Stoke’s style of play hasn’t won them many friends over the years but it might just win them a crucial three points and save them from relegation.
The Potters are on a wretched run of just one win in their last 14 games but if the team stay true to their roots they might get a result at Loftus Road.
A hallmark of Tony Pulis’ team is aggression. Stoke commit on average 13 fouls per game, a Premier League high, but how the opposition reacts often determines the result.
Stoke Premier League Wins 2012/13
Stoke have won seven games this season and it is no coincidence that those victories have come against teams that struggle to score goals from set pieces. The least prolific sides from set pieces have all been beaten, four of those victories achieved with a clean sheet.
It seems Stoke are successful when they can break their opponent’s rhythm, with fouls, but avoid being punished from set pieces.
Under mounting pressure, it will be fascinating to see if Tony Pulis sticks to his usual gameplan against QPR this weekend.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 14:03 19th Apr, 2013 but subject to change
