Tony Pulis has had 205 games in his second spell in charge of Stoke City

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is still focused solely on Premier League survival despite his side's surge into the top half of the table.

The Potters are eighth after stretching their unbeaten run in four games with the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

But Pulis insisted: "I've always said that it was a three-year plan coming into the Premier League.

"If we maintain Premier League status for a third year, then we can really push on," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

Only one team, West Ham in 2003, have been relegated from the Premier League with more than 40 points since the introduction of a 38-game season.

And Saturday's draw saw Stoke reach the 20-point mark with still four games before the halfway point of the Premier League season.

He's entitled to his opinion and his view. He's allowed to say what he wants. Tony Pulis on Roberto Mancini

But, with some fans openly discussing the possibility of European football at the Britannia Stadium next season, Pulis is concentrating solely on reaching that landmark and completing the infrastructural improvements that three years of Premier League football have helped to fund.

"This is the third year," he said. "It's a tough league and sometimes we do get too carried away with things and too down with things.

"Maintain Premier League status for a third year and this club will have put down rock solid foundations to really push on."

On the negative side, City boss Roberto Mancini became the latest opposing manager to criticise the Potters' physical, pragmatic style.

"It was a tough test us," said Mancini. "Stoke play long ball, long ball, long ball. But I'm happy because my team played good football and that was very difficult here."

But Pulis defended his side, pointing out: "He's entitled to his opinion and his view. He's allowed to say what he wants. That's what this country is built on, freedom of opinion.

"I'll just leave it to other people and our supporters to judge.

Matthew Etherington was signed from West Ham for �2m in January 2009

"We played well against Liverpool two weeks ago and we played really well against City."

And Stoke scorer Matthew Etherington insists that some of the football his side have produced in recent weeks proves that they are more than just a long ball team, highlighting Tuncay's backheel in the build-up to his goal as an example of the creativity and artistry the team possess.

"It goes to show that we have got quality," Etherington told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We get stereotyped with a certain way of playing but when you've got Tunny doing thing's like that we just have to laugh it off.

"We know we've got quality players in this football team but we're hard working as well and there's nothing wrong with that."

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