Stoke stopper targets Cup Glory

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen believes Stoke City can reward their progress from recent years by mounting a serious challenge in both cup competitions this season. The Potters host Fulham on Tuesday night in one of six all Premiership ties and the Dane says Stoke have a realistic chance of lifting the Carling cup in February.

“Cup runs create a lot of excitement around the place. Without playing too many games you could be in a cup final,” he told BBC Radio Stoke. “With a bigger squad this year, we can give it a right go in both cups.”

After reaching the last eight of the FA Cup last season, a year after reaching the quarter-finals of the carling Cup, optimism is high of repeating the heroics of 1972 – Stoke’s only major trophy in their long history, winning the league cup against Dave Sexton’s Chelsea. The whole city embarked on a cup fairytale to Wembley where Stoke finally got their hands on silverware after 109 years of trying.

Manager Tony Pulis echoes the thoughts of his first choice keeper: “If we want to push on as a football club, then success in the cup competitions is important to us.”

Sorensen could well be watching from the sidelines if Pulis opts to rest him ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle. Bosnian, Asmir Begovic and summer signing Carlo Nash will be eager to take the gloves. Although both sides are expected to keep a similar side from the weekend, knowing that the winner of this game could well go all the way.

Fulham fans in particular will have a taste for cup glory following last seasons Europa league final. Having never passed the quarter-final stage of the league Cup, Mark Hughes will be hoping to leave the Potteries still in the competition. The Welshman has also indicated he will not be making wholesale changes in order to concentrate on the league.

“From my point of view, as a new manager coming in, I want to see the core elements of the team play as many times as possible. I made the point before and after the last round against Port Vale that we’re very early in the season and I don’t think you need to make that many changes.”

Fulham eased into round three with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Stoke’s city rivals, Port Vale but will expect a much sterner test this time out. The Potters’ route to the third round was a little shakier scraping past a gritty Shrewsbury side with a 2-1 win.

Fans that make their way to the game will be hoping for a repeat of last seasons Premier League fixture at the Britannia, which saw the home side race into a 3-0 lead after only half an hour before a second half Fulham onslaught saw the game nervously finish 3-2.

11 years ago this fixture was being played out in the third tier of English football but now both sides have enjoyed great fortunes in the last few years and whilst both seem set for a mid-table Premier League finish, a cup run would provide the perfect tonic. Fulham have endured a better start to their season and come into the game after a hard fought draw away to Blackburn. Stoke on the other hand have had a tougher start and will feel they should have taken all three points from Saturday’s game at home to winless West Ham.

The game is expected to be a tight encounter with both sides making only a handful of changes between them and it could well be a long night in the Potteries. Should Sorensen retain his place in the sticks, the Dane has stopped the last 5 out of 6 penalties he has faced which will no doubt come into the mind of his manager should the game be heading in that direction.