HOW times change. Back in August the thought of simply being in the Premiership was exciting, new and just made you smile.

We went very quickly from the crushing disappointment of the opening day defeat against Bolton to the fantastic high of beating Aston Villa at the Brit.

And did any of us expect to be going into tomorrow’s game against the nouveau riche Manchester City with a serious prospect of the team being just below half way in the league by the end of the match?

I hate to quote statistics about games because they always seem to come back to bite me on the bum, but two things are simply true.

First, Stoke are a better team at the Brit, partly because of our fantastic support there.

Equally Mark Hughes’ team has only one away win to its name.

Given that the Potters have not managed to beat anyone since narrowly getting past West Brom at the end of November, our visitors’ away form is not something to feel laid back about.

Plenty of teams we have met this year were on rough runs before meeting Stoke but have still beaten us.

So it is vital that we approach this match in the right way. Determined, committed and ready for the challenge.

I don’t expect our players to be more skilful than Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland and co.

But the lesson from the first fixture at Eastlands is simple – let those guys play unhindered and you are in trouble.

If we can provide the level of commitment seen in the Villa, United and Liverpool home matches we stand a chance.

Then it will be up to our attacking players to make the most of the possession we get.

The prospect of Etherington and Lawrence on either flank providing crosses for Beattie and Fuller is mouthwatering and could be mightily effective.

The big question is who should play in central midfield. Glenn Whelan, Seyi Olifanjana, Amdy Faye and Rory Delap could all do the job, but Seyi is apparently out of favour and Faye got taken off at half time against Spurs.

Delap may be no Alan Hudson but he’ll run his heart out for the team and we’ll need that tomorrow.

If that gives Whelan space to play a bit of football himself, then great.

But please, TP, don’t make both those central midfielders sit watching attacks when they reach the penalty area.

Let one of them loose in the box. We need goals. We need to go for it.