TEAMtalk's Insider Mark Holmes offers his weekly thoughts on Stoke's Premier League hopes as they bid to bounce back from defeat at Everton.

Stoke went into last weekend's game at Goodison on the back of one defeat in five and full of confidence they could finally claim that elusive first away win. The previous away game had seen them come from two goals down to draw at Villa, while Bolton were seen off at The Britannia to stir genuine optimism the wait for three points on the road would be over.

Of course it didn't happen. The Potters' comeback at Villa Park was the second time they had come from 2-0 down to draw this season, but it not a tactic any other team is likely to take up. Put simply, going two goals down decreases your chances of victory.

Only it appeared anything but simple to Stoke's players at Everton as they yet again threw away their hopes of an away win with a laughable first-half performance.

Thomas Sorensen will take the blame for two rare howlers between the sticks but the Dane was hardly helped by the 10 men in front of him. It was not the worst performance ever seen, but there was little threat of a goal at their end and plenty at ours.

Half-time could not come quick enough but few expected a repeat of the second-half showing at Villa Park a fortnight before. However, a couple of minutes in and hopes were raised once again when Ryan Shawcross reduced the deficit with his ample bonce.

For 25 minutes Stoke were fantastic and Everton, at times camped in their own half, were perhaps a tad lucky not to concede an equaliser. Danny Higginbotham just failed to connect to a ball in the box, though, and the Toffees eventually put the game to bed on one of their dangerous breaks forward.

There can be few complaints about the result on the day and so attention must now be turned to four absolutely huge games, beginning with Saturday's Britannia clash against Middlesbrough.

Now if Stoke are going to go a full season without an away victory - and let's be honest it looks possible - they will probably need to win three of their remaining home games.

They are against Boro, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham and Wigan so nine points is the least they will probably expect given their tremendous record at the Britannia, but the Potters are wrong if they believe these games will be easier than those against the likes of Arsenal, Villa and Manchester City, all of whom they beat.

This weekend's match has predictably been billed as a six-pointer and in these sort of games the most important thing is not to lose. You can't help but feel Gareth Southgate will be quite happy if the gap between Stoke and Boro is still two points come 5pm on Saturday.

The Teessiders could actually overtake Stoke with a win but Southgate will not want to risk falling five points behind the Potters and so is likely to play for a draw, which means Tony Pulis will have to adapt his gameplan.

It is no coincidence Stoke have competed well against the top sides this season because the Welshman sets up his team to absorb pressure and hurt the opposition on the break, or from a set piece. It has worked wonders for Pulis, but Boro will be the team sitting deep on Saturday and it is up to Stoke to break them down.

They will need to make the most of a narrow pitch, get as much pace into the starting XI as possible and play with the same tempo that was seen for much of the second half at Goodison.

A side with Etherington, Lawrence, Whelan, Fuller and Beattie can break down Boro and Pulis must resist the temptation to play it safe by sacrificing creativity and flair for muscle and hard work. A win would really lift the pressure ahead of the West Brom trip but a draw would keep it right on and so Stoke must go for broke at The Brit.

Be wary of Downing, Alves and Tuncay, but concentrate on their own game and get the three points that could go a long way to sealing their - and Boro's - fate this season.

Only two more wins may be needed after that and there's every chance a confident side could get them from the games against West Brom, Newcastle and Blackburn. Survival is there for the taking and it is now up to Pulis and his players to release the defensive shackles and go in search of the goals that will give them another year in the Premier League.