Peter Crouch Feels Confident for Win at Valencia

Peter Crouch

Following their FA Cup adventure to the final last May, Stoke City's Europa League sojourn is gathering momentum with an attractive draw in the knockout stages against the Spaniards as reward for qualification from their group.

While Pulis recognises the fatigue factor of Uefa's second-class trophy which has added the Manchester heavyweights to its competitors, he also knows his team have been equally galvanised, witnessed by a club record fourth successive victory in the Premier League secured by this win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"Without a question of a doubt we were really tired coming back from the games in the early part of the season," said Pulis, whose side lost their previous four league matches before this dramatic reversal of fortunes. "But the other thing no one talks about is it was fresh for us. The players were in their fourth season in the Premier League and were excited about European football.

"It's very difficult in respect of the travelling. I got in to bed about a quarter to five on Thursday morning. It takes it out of the players.

"Yet if you look at what we've done, not only have we qualified from a tough group but it was the travel as well. It's a culmination of everything but we have managed to work through it. We will certainly enjoy the Valencia game, it's a great game for us.

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