Stoke midfielder Rory Delap insists Stoke deserve to be on the cusp of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League.The Potters need just a solitary point against Leicester on Saturday to end the club's 23-year exile from the top flight.

The style of football played by City under the stewardship of boss Tony Pulis has drawn criticism from some quarters, but Delap has heaped praise on the side's consistency.

"You have to want to be in the Premier League," said Delap. "We said at the start of the season we wanted to be up there. We thought it was a good enough squad to do it.

"Not many people outside of this club gave us a chance of winning promotion but it is all about getting that consistency in the Championship.

"We have had a couple of bad patches but we have been a lot more consistent than other teams. We have had to make the most of what we had. We have a big, powerful fit and strong side."

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