Andre Villas-Boas has said that Stoke City have the "best defence in Europe", and that he greatly respects Tony Pulis's side.

• Blog: Record-breakers hold firm

While the Tottenham Hotspur manager's comments have to be put in the context of his team's 0-0 draw on Saturday and any attempt to cover his own team's flaws, there are statistics that back up the assertion.

For one, the game at White Hart Lane was Stoke's ninth clean sheet of the season. As well ...

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