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Stoke City's new club record for draws in a season is also the most for any senior club in world football in 2018/19.

Stoke's stalemate at Millwall yesterday made it 21 and counting this term under Gary Rowett and Nathan Jones - and nine 0-0s equals a club record too.

Stoke-on-Trent Live has checked hundreds of Fifa-accredited senior league across the planet, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and no one can match that... although we are happy for anyone to point out a team who has slipped through the net.

National League side Halifax come closest with 20 from 46 games but they ended their campaign with a 2-0 win at Fylde yesterday and can't catch the Potters.

Stoke's previous record was 19 set in 1990 but, with just one game to go - at home against Sheffield United next Sunday, they cannot match the English Football League standard which remains shared four ways.

Norwich City - 23 draws from 42 games, Division One (top flight), 1978/79

Exeter City - 23 draws from 46 games, Division Four (fourth tier), 1986/87

Hartlepool United - 23 draws from 46 games, Division Three (fourth tier), 1997/98

Cardiff City - 23 games from 46 games, Division Three (fourth tier), 1997/98

But yesterday shouldn't have been a draw...

Or rather, Jones is lamenting a chance missed to break the deadlock from the penalty spot - not to be confused with missing a chance from the penalty spot.

The manager believes Stoke should have been awarded a spot kick early on when Benik Afobe appeared to be tugged back when he was pacing onto a low cross from Moritz Bauer.

“I can’t believe we didn’t get it, it was a stone-wall penalty and would probably have been a red card as well,” he said.

“Pearce has got his hands all over Benik and he probably scores if he isn’t fouled.

“We might also have had one in the 94th minute for a foul on Sam Vokes, but you don’t expect to get those here. But that first one.”

Stoke defender expected to be man in demand

Another clean sheet for Stoke and one of their back four was mentioned in The Sun last night as a summer target for Aston Villa, DC United and Huddersfield Town.

Ashley Williams will be a free agent when his contract ends at Everton and speculation has started about what might happen next.

(Image: EMPICS Sport)

Neil Harris impressed with Stoke's progress

The Millwall manager gave a passing verdict on Stoke's own development.

Stoke cannot finish any higher than 16th and have not been higher than 14th in 2019 - but Harris insists they are a much better side to the one which beat Millwall when Gary Rowett was manager in December.

He said: “What I can say is my Millwall team battled, ran, challenged and competed. They did everything asked of them.

"Stoke were better than us first half, no complaints there. We couldn’t force the game because they were so good with the ball. Stoke were miles better today than when we went there a couple of months ago."