Stoke built on their 3 points against Burnley with another 3 against big spending Sunderland. A Kitson goal and and another dogged defensive display ensured city bagged the points and gained their third clean sheet in 4 games.

Stoke City tonight were on the verge of confirming a sucker punch to their relegation rivals by announcing the double signing of Robert Huth and Sanli Tuncay as Muhammad Ali wasn't the only big name frequenting the Britannia this afternoon. Unconfirmed reports from various news outlets suggest Pulis has pulled off a masterstroke by actually confirming the audacious £11m swoop on Middlesborough.

In a game that could have been a throwback to this very fixture at the old Victoria Ground, Stoke took their first away point of the season on a sweltering day at St Andrews. It was a typical Stoke.v.Birmingham game, long ball after long ball, head tennis around the middle and, once more, an unhealthy reliance on Mr Delap and his not so secret weapon.

Unconfirmed reports today have suggested that Tony Pulis has ended his search for an Assistant Manager by appointing former Thai National Boss Peter Reid.

The sight of Cresswell's name on the teamsheet sent a shiver down my spine, again he gets on the pitch, again he starts an important Premier league game and again he failed to have any positive impact on the game whatsoever.

Liverpool 0-0 Stoke was the score 11 months ago as Stoke got their first away point in their return to the top division….it was also the most uncomfortable match I have ever, ever watched…

From the moment Gerrard’s effort was disallowed, it seemed a matter of when and not if Liverpool would score..and this was in the 1st minute; what followed for the next 93 minutes or so was a dogged and spirited display from a wall of Yellow warriors as well as a near on coronary for yours truly.

2 goals, 3 points, a clean sheet and £10 on Shawcross to score first at 28/1 – a pretty much perfect Saturday for this Stokie!

The sun basked down on the windswept Britannia as the ever vociferous Stoke faithful cheered their heroes on to another Potters win – but the performance on the day further illustrated the need for Pulis to again work his magic in the transfer market before the end of the window on the 1st September.