Before they had even kicked a ball in the Barclays Premier League, the Potters were being written off as relegation certainties by many pundits.

That view seemed to be confirmed by a 3-1 opening day defeat at Bolton Wanderers, with one bookmaker even paying out to those who had backed Stoke to go straight back down.

However Saturday's 2-1 win at Hull City confirmed their safety and Delap believes the turning point came in their first home fixture when they launched a rousing fightback to overcome Aston Villa 3-2 thanks to Mamady Sidibe's winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Delap said: "It is a tremendous achievement for us to be safe with two games remaining. We didn't want to go to Arsenal on the last day, needing a win.

"Everyone was telling us we were safe on 39 points but we were keen to get over the 40-mark. To do so at Hull was something special. We were just glad to put it to bed, especially as a lot of people had written us off at the start of the season.

"After we lost our first game at Bolton, where we were pummelled, some bookies began paying out.

"But then we beat Aston Villa, coming from behind to get a winner so late on...that, if you like, was a turning point.

"To get our first win in the second game was great and we have built from there."