Allen: We can’t feel sorry for ourselves

STOKE CITY have every reason to feel gloomy, given that they have had more permanent managers than wins in 2018, but Joe Allen says the self-pity has to end. Gary Rowett, the club’s third manager of the calendar year, has so far been unable to add to the miserly tally of two victories that they have managed since last Christmas. It means that the pre-season Championship favourites are hovering above the relegation zone in the early standings, with Allen acknowledging that confidence has taken a hit. The Wales midfielder said: ‘Maybe it’s taken us longer to adapt than we would have liked. The effort’s there, the endeavour’s there. Maybe a little bit more confidence and belief, which will come from grinding out a few results, is going to be the difference in terms of really kicking on. ‘You have to be thick-skinned. You have to deal with expectations at a club such as Stoke coming into the Championship.’ Allen perhaps had more reason than most to feel sorry for himself at Preston, being left with a cut nose after being poleaxed by a forearm smash from Paul Gallagher, who escaped without a card — although retrospective punishment is possible. ‘They’ll have to look at it and make a decision,’ Allen said. The 28-year-old no doubt felt even worse when Gallagher thumped in a penalty moments later but put that aside to play a significant role in saving a point. Stoke trailed 2-1 at half-time, with Graham Burke restoring Preston’s lead after Erik Pieters had equalised for Stoke. Then Allen delivered a free-kick from which substitute Peter Crouch headed home. Preston, who out-performed richer clubs to finish seventh in the Championship last season, have now played two of the relegated Premier League sides, having lost narrowly at Swansea a week ago. ‘It’s a tough division,’ said captain Tom Clarke. ‘You’re coming up against teams who have come down from the Premier League who have kept most of their players like Stoke.’