The Aztexan

The Potters hung on through another weekend, staying in first and even extending their lead a tiny bit. Their own result today was a 1-1 draw with Blackpool. Meanwhile, 2nd place Bristol City lost 1-2 to Cardiff City, and 3rd place Watford drew 1-1 with Plymouth Argyle. Hull City, meanwhile, continue to shoot up the table, with 2 wins since last weekend.

P	Team	Pts	Move
1	Stoke City	68	—
2	Bristol City	67	—
3	Hull City	65
4	Watford	65
5	West Bromwich Albion	63
6	Plymouth Argyle	59	—
7	Ipswich Town	59

(Full table)

So while Stoke isn't running away with it (yet!), they stay atop the table for another week. That's one down, six to go. Next up: an away match against relegation-endangered Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday, Mar. 29.

And here's a Championship bonus for you: an article from BBC News a couple weeks ago on Stoke City and Bristol City, and their Premiership hopes: Championship chargers.

"The biggest thing for a manager - and this is something that I learned when I came into coaching with Harry Redknapp at Bournemouth - is knowing the product," [Stoke manager Tony] Pulis explains. "And the product in football is players.

"There has been a big change of players here.

"You have got to really know what you want as a manager and put the right pegs in the right holes.

"You don't find out about players sat around the television. You have to be out and about, on the road, watching games. It takes a lot of time to analyse what is out there."

Labels: Stoke City