'Why can't Stoke compete for promotion?'

When it comes to Stoke City's chances of enjoying a good season in the Championship, Potters left-back Aaron Cresswell asks "why can't we?".

Stoke are fifth in the table, having lost just two matches and conceding the joint fewest goals (six) alongside Middlesbrough.

However, three successive draws have seen them drop out of the top two.

Cresswell says the side have got their eyes on sticking around as potential promotion contenders.

"The break has come at the right time. We'd obviously drawn the last three games which is frustrating from our part," the Liverpudlian told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I think we've had a really good start but that's all it is, it's only a start. We've got to keep pushing each other, striving for better.

"It's certainly a fantastic achievement in the first nine games and we want to be in there come game 46."

Listen to the full interview with Cresswell and more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds.