Having finished halfway during majority of their campaigns in the Premier League, the Potters found themselves battling against relegation this season.

It was a fight that they ultimately won, but it took them until the final month of the campaign to secure their status in the top flight.

Here, Sports Mole looks back over the last few months from a Stoke point of view.

August

Stoke opened their season with four straight draws, the first of which coming against newly-promoted Reading at the Madejski Stadium. A goalless encounter with Arsenal followed in their first home match of the season.

Their League Cup campaign ended before it began as they fell to a 4-3 defeat against Swindon Town, then managed by future Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio.

September

Draws against Wigan Athletic and Manchester City maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign, until Ashley Cole's goal inflicted the first 14 defeats throughout the season.

The Britannia faithful had to wait until the end September for their first victory, as Peter Crouch bagged a double to seal all three points against Swansea City.

October

The month would end winless for the Potters. It started with a trip to Anfield, which ended in a stalemate, before a Robin van Persie-inspired Manchester United triumphed 4-2 at Old Trafford.

A home encounter with Sunderland was a real chance to get points on the board, but once again Tony Pulis's men failed to trouble the scoresheet.

Goals were already proving hard to come by, and they would eventually finish the season as the second-worst attacking side. Only Queens Park Rangers scored less.

November

Norwich City extended Stoke's winless streak to four game, but Charlie Adam's goal against QPR sealed all three points at the Britannia Stadium, kick-starting a run of form that would see them without another defeat until the turn of the year.

Further wins over Fulham and Newcastle United helped the Potters shoot up the Premier League table.

December

December began with another win – their third in a row – against West Bromwich Albion, before successive draws against Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool came to town on Boxing Day, but left empty handed as a brace by boyhood Evertonian Jonathan Walters helped Stoke claim a 3-1 win at the Britannia Stadium. The year ended with a 3-3 draw at home to Southampton.

January

Their first defeat in 10 games came against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, which was followed by a goalless draw on the road against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.

Pulis's team went on to redeem themselves 10 days later with a 4-1 victory in the replay, but their run did not last much longer as Roberto Mancini's men, for the second time in a month, vanquished the Potters.

League form took a dip during January. A 4-0 defeat at Chelsea was made worse by a double own goal and penalty miss from Walters, while a 2-2 draw at home with Wigan Athletic brought about their only point.

February

Stoke had gone six games without a win before a brief respite came by way of a 2-1 victory over Reading, but their plummet towards the lower reaching of the Premier League was fast gathering pace.

They lost their next game to Fulham at Craven Cottage to end the month with two defeats and a win.

March

Things didn't get any better during March, starting with a 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham United followed by a 2-1 loss at Newcastle United.

Potters fans were growing increasingly tired and frustrated at the negative tactics employed by manager Pulis. There seemed to be no cutting edge to their play, signified by a goalless draw with West Brom at the Britannia.

Again, a lack of adventure led to their downfall at Goodison Park, although Everton needed a wonderful solo effort from Kevin Mirallas to break down their defence and decide the game.

April

The month began with a crucial six-pointer in the fight against relegation, as Aston Villa pitched up at the Britannia. Paul Lambert's men walked away with the spoils, made all the sweeter by Matt Lowton's goal-of-the-season contender – a 25-yard volley having brought the ball down on his chest.

Their winless run was stretched to seven games by Manchester United, meaning that their trip to Loftus Road took on an absolute must-win importance. Pulis rallied his troops before the game, stating that victory would all but guarantee their safety.

Goals from Crouch and Walters saw the Potters triumph 2-0 over a beleaguered Queens Park Rangers outfit, who were now more or less consigned to life in the Championship next season.

A 1-0 win in their next match against Norwich delivered a further boost to their cause.

May

That was, however, to be Stoke's final win of the season, as they ended their campaign by taking just two points from a possible nine. Draws on the road at Sunderland and Southampton were separated by a home defeat to Spurs.

In the end, the Potters finished six points clear of the relegation zone, thus ensuring a sixth-consecutive year of top-flight football.

This was followed by reports that having spent seven years at the helm, manager Pulis had decided to step down.