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Narcis Pelach sends plea to Stoke City supporters as he bids for third win in a row

Narcis Pelach celebrates Stoke City's first goal in a 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers in mid-week. Stoke are now looking to make it three wins in a row when they take on Millwall.
-Credit: (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)


Narcis Pelach has issued a direct message to Stoke City supporters as he hunts a third win in a row - and a long-term aim of making the bet365 Stadium a hostile place for any opposition.

Pelach admits that a clash against Millwall (Saturday, 12.30pm), who have won their last four in a row to climb to fifth in the Championship, will be perhaps the hardest of his time so far as head coach. But he has growing confidence following victories over Derby County and Blackburn Rovers in both the side and their connection with the fan base

The team has lined up in front of their supporters to link together with a Jurgen Klopp-like celebration and he wants to keep that building with a lot of energy from first whistle to last and beyond, giving fans what they want in order for fan to give him what the side needs.

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He said in his pre-match press conference: “Of course winning a game always gives you more confidence but it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Of course I want to start with a first goal but we need to start the game well, we need to finish the game well, we need to be reliable for the whole 90 minutes. I think at home our fans can be a difference and it’s why we have to give our all and make sure that all the fans are next to us and proud and make difficult things for Millwall, because they’re a good side and we need that help.

“I think the fans are so important. I’m not sure they know just how important they are, I’ve never asked, but I know how much the players enjoyed that win over Blackburn, how much they enjoyed at the end of the game celebrating with them, how much they enjoyed celebrating with them after the Derby game. I think the dressing room just wants more of this.

“We are all conscious about this. When I first came it was me saying it and everyone looking at me like, ‘What is this guy saying?’ But now it’s different, the players talk about this, they want the connection, they are enjoying the connection. We’ve had conversations about this, trying to make sure we have a very nice afternoon in our stadium and hopefully enjoy another three points against a difficult side.

“At home it feels different. We have confidence, we will go in with energy and we believe we can connect with (our fans) from the beginning. Then the game is not 11 against 11, it’s 26,000 against 11. That’s the aim. We want everyone to come here saying, ‘It’s tough, Stoke City, ooof. To go there and play against them it’s not just playing against the team it’s playing against the stadium.’

“That’s what we want this weekend. Hopefully we can bring that energy that helps the fans to be right next to us. It’s how I see it, how I approach it. We will make it about Stoke City, not about the players against their players.”

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