Stoke City -Tottenham Hotspur Preview

Oct 22, 2009 - 4:27 PM JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Tottenham striker Peter Crouch has claimed Stoke are no longer the Premier League's surprise package ahead of the Potters' visit to White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Stoke defied the so-called experts by finishing a creditable 12th in their first season back in the top flight.

Crouch knows Tony Pulis's side will represent a stern examination of third placed Tottenham's credentials to challenge for a Champions League spot.

The England international said: "When they first came up they were favourites to go straight back down but credit to Stoke, they've done fantastically well and they've established themselves in the Premier League.

"Teams might have fallen into the trap of thinking they were going to go out there and roll Stoke over last season but now everyone knows that's not the case.

"We all know what they are all about. They are always a tough, tough team and a team that will be difficult to break down, a team that will try to impose itself on the game.

"They've had some great results, beat top teams and quite often teams just don't know how to deal with them with the long throws and set-pieces, but they have a lot of quality as well, so we'll have to be careful. It's not an easy game.

"We've got to be able to match their effort and commitment and that's something we'll endeavor to do.

"All said and done though, with the quality we have, we'd like to say we've got enough to beat them."

Crouch will deputise for top-scorer Jermain Defoe, who starts a three-match ban after being sent off during last weekend's 2-1 win at Portsmouth.

Stoke striker James Beattie was sold by Spurs manager Harry Redknapp from Southampton to Everton.

Beattie scored his first goals of the season by bagging a brace in last weekend's 2-1 win over lowly West Ham and aims to move a step closer to 100 career goals to shoot down his old boss.

"The target used to be 20 goals in a season when I was younger, but the standard is higher these days so it's more difficult.

"You're looking more for 15 nowadays, and I definitely want to get that 100 mark this year.

"I've read different figures as to how many I've got, but my dad says I was on 82 when I came to Stoke, and that's good enough for me."

Beattie's first goal against the Hammers was from a penalty to maintain an impressive spot kick record.

Former England star Beattie has missed only one of 36 penalties and claims he owes his success to studying ex-Southampton teammate Matt Le Tissier.

Beattie said: "The person who introduced me to the idea of getting a routine and sticking to it was Matt when we were at Southampton.

"So I sat down and came up with one. I just pretend I'm in the back garden taking one with my son James in goal.

"I don't hit the ball quite so hard against him. You also shut everything out and don't look at the keeper."

Stoke will be without defender Robert Huth, who has been banned for three matches by the Football Association for punching West Ham defender Matthew Upson during last Saturday's 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium.