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Verdict delivered on Narcis Pelach progress as Jon Walters made to wait for universal backing

Stoke City head coach Narcis Pelach.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Narcis Pelach appears to be winning over his doubters at Stoke City despite only being victorious once since taking over from the sacked Steven Schumacher.

The Spaniard’s five Championship matches at the helm have yielded five points from two defeats, a 6-1 hammering of Portsmouth and two draws, the latest coming against Norwich City at the weekend.

The Potters now host Bristol City tomorrow (7.45pm) looking to improve on their 16th place in the table and close on rivals who are just three points better off in 10th.

READ MORE:Stoke City injury update with Wouter Burger decision and Sam Gallagher delay

READ MORE:Narcis Pelach pays touching tribute to absent Bristol City manager Liam Manning

But one battle where Pelach is seeing some success is in convincing supporters that he is the man to revive the ailing Potters.

While 54% of fans responding to a poll on Stoke’s progress so far this season believe the jury is still out on the decision to sack Schumacher, 24% have rated Pelach a seven for his early work at the bet365 Stadium while another 17% have scored his efforts with an eight. In fact, of those who responded, 81% marked Pelach between five and eight.

Similarly, the man who had a huge say in Schumacher’s exit, Stoke’s sporting director Jon Walters, is generally being backed, although not as clearly as Pelach. Of fans responding, 20% marked Walters’ efforts this season as a seven, and another 17% marked him an eight. However, 22% of respondents only rated him a five.

Nevertheless, there remains faith amongst the Stoke support that Pelach and the players at his disposal can engineer a top-half finish this season, something eluding most of his successors at the bet365 Stadium since relegation in May 2018.

Asked to predict Stoke’s position in the table come the end of the season, 55% of respondents predicted a top-half finish but outside the top-six play-off places, while 37% believed Stoke would again finish in the bottom half but safe from the drop into League One.

Of the rest, an optimistic 7% reckoned Pelach will guide Stoke into the play-offs - they are currently 10 places and seven points off the top-six, while 1% are gearing up for relegation.

POLL RESULTS

Was it the right decision to sack Steven Schumacher?

Yes - 21%

No - 25%

Time will tell - 54%

On a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is most confident), how confident are you in Narcis Pelach as head coach?

1 - 1%

2 - 2%

3 - 4%

4 - 6%

5 - 22%

6 - 18%

7 - 24%

8 - 17%

9 - 3%

10 - 3%

On a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is most confident), how confident are you in Jon Walters as sporting director?

1 - 5%

2 - 4%

3 - 5%

4 - 7%

5 - 17%

6 - 15%

7 - 20%

8 - 16%

9 - 5%

10 - 6%

Where will Stoke finish this season?

Top six - 7%

Top half but not play-offs - 55%

Bottom half but safe - 37%

Bottom three - 1%

Join the debate ... click HERE to rate Pelach's first five games in charge