Stoke boss Tony Pulis is under no illusions how difficult it will be for his newly-promoted side to remain in the Premier League next season.

The Staffordshire club returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence courtesy of a goalless home draw against Leicester on the final day of the season, as they finished as runners-up behind champions West Brom.

The gulf between the Championship and the Premier League is well documented, with promoted teams traditionally tipped to struggle.

Those sentiments have been underlined by Derby's woes this season. Their defeat at Blackburn on Saturday ensured they would go down in history as the Premier League's worst ever side, finishing with a points total lower than the miserly 15 amassed by Sunderland during the 2005-06 campaign.

Pulis said: "We already know we are going to be one of the favourites to come straight back down but I have never been relegated in my life and I don't intend to start next season.

"It is important that we start to build for next season and we know that we have to drastically alter the structure of everything at the club if we are going to have any chance of surviving."