Whitehead proud of high-flying Stoke

Dean Whitehead has praised Stoke’s resolve after coming through a run of three Premier League games in seven days with maximum points.

Victories over Fulham, Newcastle United and high-flying West Brom has lifted the club to ninth, leapfrogging Arsenal in the process, with the midfielder netting the winner in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Steve Clarke’s side.

Whitehead feels the victory at the Hawthorns was all the more impressive due to West Brom’s impressive form in front of their own fans, winning six of their seven home games prior to the arrival of Stoke, including victories against Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea and conceding just one goal throughout.

“It was an absolutely fantastic win for us,” he told the club’s official website.

“To come here, to the Hawthorns, where West Brom have been picking up points for fun, and for us to get the three points is a great achievement. It’s rounded off a tough, tough week for us with our ninth point from three games, and that is absolutely brilliant for us.

“We have put a lot of work in this week, with the games that we have had to play, so to come out with wins in each of them tells you a lot about this group of players.

“We are moving up the league now, and we are in a position which we feel we want to be in come the end of the season. The target is to get in the top 10, and we have put ourselves into a position which reflects the good start to the season we have made.”

Stoke are currently enjoying a five-match unbeaten run – winning four and drawing one – and Whitehead noted the subsequent positive attitude in the dressing room, with a trip to struggling Aston Villa next up.

“We are flying at the moment, confidence is absolutely sky high, and rightly so,” he said.

“We look forward to going down to Aston Villa at the weekend, and hopefully we can go there and perform equally as well and pick up another three points.”