Pulis welcomes Ferguson support

Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 15 November Kick-off: 1500 GMT Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport website

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Arsenal accused Stoke of aggressive tackling in the Potters' 2-1 win

Stoke boss Tony Pulis says he was happy to receive the backing of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson over the Potters' tough-tackling reputation.

Arsene Wenger accused Stoke of tackling with intent to injure his Arsenal players in Stoke's win on 1 November.

Ferguson subsequently said Stoke were "not a dirty team", but stopped short of criticising Wenger for his remarks.

Ahead of Saturday's meeting between the sides, Pulis told Radio 5 Live it was "very kind" of Ferguson to speak out.

"Last week, when we'd had a bit of kerfuffle with Arsenal, Sir Alex actually came out and backed us a little bit," he said.

We got promoted not because we were the best team, [but because] we turned up the most Tony Pulis

Arsenal were the team who ended United's seven-match unbeaten run in the Premier League last weekend, but Wenger was furious when his team went down to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke on 1 November.

"The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say," said the Frenchman after the match.

"The one who is tackling is not the brave one. For me the brave one is the player who is trying to play football."

Pulis defended his players at the time and, ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, told 5 Live his team built their reputation on hard graft, not hard tackling.

"Last year we had a very decent side who worked very hard and we got promoted not because we were the best team in the Championship, [but because] we were the ones who turned up the most," he said.

"By turning up I mean everybody had a go and played to his maximum, week in, week out.

"We've bought some good quality players and they've added to the squad, no question, but they get on very well together and work hard as a group. Everybody's enjoying it at the moment and long may that continue."

Pulis is hoping striker Mamady Sidibe, who suffered an ankle injury in the draw with Wigan, will recover in time to face Ferguson's team.

Our central defenders are not scared to put their head in where it might hurt, that is part of the job Mike Phelan, Man Utd assistant manager, on Stoke's long throws

Stoke have not won at Old Trafford since April 1976, and have yet to register an away win in the top flight this season.

Their most likely scoring avenue will once again be the long throws of Rory Delap, but Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan is confident they can cope with the threat.

"Those throw-ins are a powerful weapon for Stoke," Phelan told BBC Radio Manchester.

"But our central defenders are not scared to put their head in where it might hurt. That is part of the job.

"You have to deal with what comes your way, whether that is a long throw, crosses or anything else."

United have concerns over Patrice Evra (ankle) and Darren Fletcher (knee), and a host of changes following Tuesday's Carling Cup win over QPR are expected, with Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo among those likely to return.