Stoke City enjoyed the perfect start to life under Michael O’Neill, with the new boss guiding the side to a 4-2 win at relegation rivals Barnsley.

The comprehensive nature of the victory has really lifted the mood around the Potters camp and you would fully expect it too. They were confident in possession and scored some great goals.

And, that new-found belief was reflected by winger James McClean, who suggested that reaching the play-offs is still a possibility for the side.

Whilst there’s absolutely nothing wrong with aiming high and showing ambition, the reality is that looking too far ahead right now can be seen as complacency.

Stoke are currently second from bottom, three points from safety and have lost 11 out of 16 games in the Championship this season. Quite simply, that is not a blip, it shows serious that this squad has serious problems.

Of course, O’Neill’s appointment and the tactical tweaks he will make can make a difference but it’s unrealistic to think that he can suddenly transform a side that were significantly struggling.

As well as that, reaching the play-offs is a ridiculously tall order.

The Potters trail the top six by 17 points with 30 to play. Even if they managed to average two points a game, generally considered title-winning form, they probably still wouldn’t finish in the play-offs.

Going on the table from last season it would leave Stoke on 71 points, which would have put them in eighth position.

So, for McClean’s prediction to come off, O’Neill’s men will have to show form that translated over the entire campaign would make them one of the best sides in the history of the Championship.

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Again, some may feel that it’s only words and many footballers make bold claims but it also suggests that the seriousness of Stoke’s current situation hasn’t registered with the wide man.

No side is ever too big to go down, with Wolves, Leeds United and Southampton just some of the sides who have dropped to the third tier in the relatively recent past.

That means Stoke’s concern right now has to be on remaining in the division and any talk of the play-offs certainly needs to wait.

It will be fine down the line if they start picking up results but McClean seems to be getting very carried away with just one win in what is a long road ahead for Stoke.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.