Tony Pulis has said that he is hoping for a positive result against Southampton this afternoon in Stoke City's final game of the Premier League season.
The Potters have secured their status in the top flight in recent weeks, losing just one of their last four matches.
The manager told the club's official website: "It's been a surreal season in lots of respects because clubs have had good runs and you think they are going to have a good season and then they've fallen away badly.
"It's happened to us, before Christmas we had a great run of games, got lots of points and then fell away at the turn of the year. You can pick five or six other clubs in the middle of the table who, for one reason or another, have done exactly the same.
"We're just hoping that we go to Southampton and get a result and keep ourselves in what would be a really good position to finish the Premier League season in."
Stoke sit 11th in the table ahead of this afternoon's fixtures.
Sian Cowper
