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Page last updated at 07:38 GMT, Tuesday, 29 March 2011 08:38 UK

George Berry thinks Stoke City will reach FA Cup final

Stoke players celebrate after their FA Cup quarter-final victory against West Ham
Stoke players celebrate after beating West Ham in their FA Cup quarter-final

Ex-Stoke defender George Berry believes the Potters will reach the FA Cup final for the first time in their history.

Tony Pulis' side face Bolton in the semi-final at Wembley on 17 April, with Manchester City or Manchester United awaiting the winners on 14 May.

"My heart says we'll win and my head says we'll win," the 53-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke.

"If the season finished tomorrow, everybody would be happy in Stoke, but it could become an even better season."

Tickets went on sale to season ticket holders at 0800 BST on Tuesday, with several supporters queuing through the night to make sure they secured their seat at Wembley.

Stoke will be making their fourth appearance in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, having reached the last four of the competition in 1899, 1971 and 1972.

From seventh place downwards, anybody from there can go if they have a bad run, that's how tight it is

George Berry

The Potters are currently 10th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.

As well as reaching the cup final, Berry believes Stoke will pick up enough points from their final eight matches to comfortably avoid the drop.

"I don't think there's any problem with staying up," said the former Wales international, who scored 30 goals in 269 games for Stoke between 1982-90.

"The league has been very tight and if you look from seventh place downwards, anybody from there can go if they have a bad run, that's how tight it is.

"Some people say it's because the top teams aren't playing as well, but I'd like to think it's because the rest of the teams in the division have actually upped their game a little bit and it's made it a lot tighter."



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see also
Banks talk inspired Stoke - Pulis
14 Mar 11 |  Stoke
Pulis relief as Stoke make semis
13 Mar 11 |  FA Cup
Stoke City 2-1 West Ham United
13 Mar 11 |  FA Cup
Man Utd to face Man City in semi
14 Mar 11 |  FA Cup
Stoke City's cult heroes
03 Nov 04 |  Football Focus


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