Stoke Boss Expecting Tough Test

Stoke Boss Tony Pulis has been speaking about what he expects from Saints ahead of this weekends fixture against the Potters.

Speaking to Local Stoke Newspaper ‘The Sentinel` he said ‘Southampton will have a right go at us compared to teams that have come to the Britannia this season to sit back and make it difficult.

‘I don’t see them coming here and sitting back and hoping for a point – it will be an attractive game.

‘That will help us though as it will create space and we will have to try to exploit that.

‘George has said they have to win games and the way to do that is come out and attack. They would rather lose two and win the third one than trying to draw three.

‘It will be up to us to use their all-out attack against them and to catch them short-handed at the back when they push forward.’

‘At this time of the season, it is all about winning and Southampton know that. I went to the game on Monday and they absolutely battered Preston, but Preston scored with their first shot and won 3-1.

‘Nobody says how well Southampton played as it is all about picking up the three points. I think they will play the exact same way as they did at Preston and they went there to win.’

Pulis went on to talk about Saints young guns Drew Surman and Gareth Bale ‘I really rate Surman. He is an elegant player who can pick out some very good passes.

‘I knew about him when I was down at Plymouth and I have seen him play a lot of games. He always looks very comfortable. He is one of those players who makes difficult things look easy and he will play in the Premiership one day. When you think Southampton have him and Gareth Bale down the left, it is quite frightening, but that is something we will have to cope with.’