POTTERS ARE BUZZING.. NO IFS OR BUTS

BY

STOKE keeper Jack Butland teams up with England today buoyed by his side’s upturn in form.

He kept his second clean sheet in three games, as the Potters handed Norwich their first defeat in nine, thanks to a Timm Klose own goal.

Butland (right) said: “People were putting their bodies on the line to stop them from getting shots on target. I could not have asked any more of the lads.

“We showed a real desire to keep that clean sheet. It was brilliant for me to see and brilliant to be a part of.

“This sort of performance has been coming and it will give us good momentum.”

Butland made decent saves from Jamal Lewis, Marco Stiepermann and Teemu Pukki to help Stoke climb to within two points of the top six. He added: “Questions were being asked of us but I never had any doubts about us.” Klose diverted a low Cuco Martina cross past his keeper, Tim Krul, and his defensive partner Christoph Zimmermann said: “We didn’t say anything about the goal.

“These things can happen and no one is blaming him.

“He went on to win every battle and every header.”