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Latest Stoke City news from StokeonTrentLive as manager explains key factor behind victories over Sunderland, Leeds United and Middlesbrough

Alex Neil has discussed the reasons for Stoke City’s upturn in form since the last international break and revealed what he hopes to see from his team when the Championship resumes this weekend.

Stoke entered the October pause dangerously close to the relegation zone after a run of one win in eight games, and with Neil admitting things had got to change.

True to his word, the manager has since seen his team go five games unbeaten – kicking off with confidence-boosting victories over in-form Sunderland, Leeds United and Middlesbrough, before goalless draws against Cardiff and Coventry.

READ MORE: Alex Neil makes prediction as squad gets to grips with new reality

Looking ahead to Saturday’s home fixture against Blackburn Rovers (3pm kick-off), Neil said: “I am really pleased with how things have been going. There’s now an element of consistency about our game.

“The good thing is, even if in one or two matches we haven’t been as free flowing going forward, we’re still very resolute at the back, and I think any successful team is built on being nice and solid.

“Obviously scoring goals and being creative is arguably the hardest part of the game, getting players in that can score you goals or find that killer pass when you need it.

“But I think we have been excellent in these games because they have been against teams that have either been challenging up at the top end of the table or they’ve been some of the considerably bigger clubs in the league.”