Stoke City manager Narcis Pelach is well aware of the dangers Leeds United will pose in this evening's Boxing Day clash, but has demanded his players match their competitive levels on the pitch.

Daniel Farke takes his side to the Bet365 Stadium looking to maintain their promotion challenge over the demanding Christmas and New Year fixtures, but with Leeds favourites to return to West Yorkshire with all three points.

Stoke have not won in their last eight games and have only picked up four points since a 2-0 win at Blackburn at the start of November, However, Pelach wants his side to be aggressive against Leeds tonight, and has urged them to get the crowd behind them with a strong early start.

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"I’m looking forward to it, all the players ready for the next game, the next battle, and we know it’s an important one at home against a top, top team but always with the idea to compete and to win," Pelach said.

"It’s important how we start the game, that we’re aggressive and on the front foot. Of course Leeds will dominate the ball because they’ve done that against every team in the league but we can be aggressive, we can fight, we can win duels, we can win second balls, we can regain the ball high up the pitch and create chances.

"Then we need to make sure that we stay on it, stay on it, and then we will have our chance because it’s a football game. You talk about the pressure being on but it has to be on me, not the players. The players are doing everything they can, they are giving it all. Of course we have not been at our best level, this is clear for us to see, and we need to win much more duels and the other day there were actions that were not right but this is the responsibility for me, not a responsibility for anyone else.

"The players need to feel calm, go into the game and fight. All the noise and all the things that could be from outside has to be on me because I’m responsible at the end of the day, I’m the coach. No one else is, not the owner, not the sporting director, not the players. If the fans are not happy, it has to be on me because the players are looking to do very well for the club."