Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has said that his side are on course for a "very special year" after they kept up their European push with a point against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Potters held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge - the first time they have avoided defeat in an away league game against the Blues since 1984 - to move within four points of Manchester United in sixth and only seven adrift of the Champions League places.
It also made it four games unbeaten for Stoke, and Hughes believes that they can maintain their pressure on the European places if they keep up their recent form.
"This performance and more performances like this will encourage us to think that," Hughes told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We've been mindful that this could be a very special year for us. But we have to maintain our focus and keep our form. And, at the moment, we seem to be doing that."
Stoke will look to go five games unbeaten for the first time in almost two years when they host Southampton on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
