Pulis' Stoke side are six points above the Premier League's bottom three

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has praised the home crowd after issuing a rallying call before their 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Pulis had asked supporters to be "like they were in the first year and the second year" of the Potters' current spell in the Premier League.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "The crowd were fantastic but you've got to give them something to cheer about as well.

"They're not going to watch a performance like that and accept that."

He continued: "I understand that as much as anybody else. I've been here through the good times and the bad times so I know what to expect.

"We've got to do better than that and the players have been told."

The Britannia Stadium is renowned for having a passionate atmosphere and the Potters' supporters were recognised as the loudest in the top flight during their first Premier League campaign.

Speaking after the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal, the Stoke boss wanted to re-iterate how important the rest of the season would be for the club.

He told BBC Radio Stoke on 23 February: "I think the next month will be a massive month in the club's history and we won't succeed unless we get them [the fans] like they were in the first year and the second year, in respect of coming to every game, roaring the players on and getting behind the players."

Stoke are hoping to finish in the top half of the Premier League and also have a home tie against West Ham United in the quarter-final of the FA Cup on 13 March.

They took the lead early in the second half against the Baggies with a header from Rory Delap.

However, they conceded a late equaliser from Carlos Vela and were indebted to goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for a number of smart saves in stoppage time to secure a point.

The draw leaves Stoke 10th in the Premier League, six points above the relegation zone, while a point was enough to lift Roy Hodgson's side out of the bottom three.

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