Rory Delap: Stoke cannot afford to lose points from winning positions

EPL : Rory Delap – Ryan Shawcros – Jonathan Walters, Stoke City v West Bromwich

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Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap says his team cannot afford to drop points from winning positions after Monday night’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Delap, who is more noted for his assists rather than his goals, gave the Potters the lead in the Premier League clash – only for Carlos Vela to come off the bench and nick a point for the Baggies with just three minutes left.

It was only the second time this season that Stoke have failed to secure three points from a winning position and Delap does not want it to become a habit.

“The last 20 minutes [against West Brom] wasn’t good enough,” Delap told BBC Radio Stoke.

“If we’re going to progress this year, whether we go for the second goal or not, we need to see games out.”

The Potters now face West Ham United twice in just eight days – travelling to Upton Park for a Premier League clash this weekend before hosting an FA Cup quarter-final between the two teams the following weekend.

And Delap is confident that his side can forget about their slip-up at the end of the West Brom game and perform like they have done for the majority of the season when they travel down to London this Saturday.

“They’re a very good side and they’re proving that,” the 34-year-old added.

“We need to do what we did for the first 60 minutes (against West Brom). “If we do that, we’ll get a result down there.”