Jones under pressure, says Pulis

Friends Tony Pulis and Dave Jones share a light moment in January

Stoke manager Tony Pulis says his friend Dave Jones is under pressure amid Cardiff City’s bid for promotion to the Premier League.

The Bluebirds lie fourth in the Championship as they host Derby County on Saturday in the first of eight remaining games.

Pulis said: “I think Dave will know that he’s under pressure this year.

“I think that everybody expects and he’s got an array of talent there that really should be there or thereabouts.”

Jones’ side have won only once in their last five outings, but remain one place behind Welsh rivals Swansea with Norwich second and Queens Park Rangers leading the division.

Leeds United and Nottingham Forest complete the play-off places going into the weekend’s games.

Speaking to BBC TWO Wales’ Friday night Sport Wales programme, Pulis said: “I think Dave will know that he’s under pressure this year.

“I think that everybody expects and he’s got an array of talent there that really should be there or thereabouts.

“But you need a little bit of luck and a bit of good fortune as well and Dave will know that as much as anybody else.

“Being a manager that can be the difference between winning and losing and Dave will be hoping, as much as anybody else – Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers will as well – that lady luck falls their way in the back end of the season.

“If it does, the two of them could be playing in the Premiership next season.”

Jones says Cardiff must overcome the hurdle of a lack of silverware to reach their goal amid what is becoming a dramatic end to the season.

He said: “There are still a lot of twists and turns – there have been over the last few weeks – before the international break there was swapping and changing, some crazy results , some good results and some bad results and that’s for everybody.

“It comes to this stage and the hardest part at this time is getting that first trophy or that first promotion.

“It’s always been the difficult part. I’ve been fortunate enough in my time that I’ve had five as a coach and manager and sometimes people forget that.

“But it’s difficult. The players try their best and work hard because they don’t get the result that everybody wants they’re either poor players or they’re not trying or something like that.

“That’s not the case, they’re just tick-box standard things that get thrown at people.”