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Pulis vows not to quit Stoke

Tony Pulis intends to "keep swimming" © Getty Images

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Stoke manager Tony Pulis has said he has no intention of quitting and told disgruntled fans they will not force him out.

A run of one win in ten games has led some Potters fans to call for an end to the manager's seven-year stint at the helm - his second period as Stoke boss.

Failure to end that poor run at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday would increase the pressure, but Pulis said: "There always comes a time when it's right for everyone [to change the manager], but I don't think it's that at the moment. You can't get rid of me that easily."

Pulis indicated that Stoke's fans had become spoilt by the club's successes in recent years, saying: "If you're given steak and chips every day, then steak and chips becomes the norm.

"You know you're going to get it in the ear from a few angles because there's a massive social network out there now. It's part and parcel of this world and a big part of professional sport that you have to deal with now.

"I understand the disappointment of a section of supporters, but I also understand there is a section out there who understands where we have come from.

"You swim with the tide when things are going well and, when it's not going so well and the tide turns, you have to swim against it. The important thing is to keep swimming."

Pulis saw his side put in a much-improved away performance before suffering a late defeat at Newcastle, and urged his players to put in that sort of effort again against West Brom.

He added: "The best thing we can do is what we did last Sunday and put in a performance like that, but win a few games as well.

"We've been on a bad run but, if we can get back to what we were doing before, we can end up having a great end of the season. That's the way you've got to think."

Pulis said he was "a nightmare for 48 hours" after a defeat, explaining: "It does hurt, but you have to pick yourself up because the players need you."

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