"Obviously, the weekend's games have played a part in that, but we have been out of it for 10 or 12 weeks.
"We are still out of it as it stands and yet, as we sit here today, one win can take you out of the bottom three, which is remarkable given the run we have had.
"We are lucky that we still have a chance of getting out of it, and we have got to take advantage of that."
Tony Pulis hailed his players for proving the doubters wrong after Stoke secured their place in the Premier League for another season.
A stunner from Liam Lawrence after a close-range strike from Ricardo Fuller fired the Potters to a 2-1 win over struggling Hull at the KC Stadium.
The win lifted Pulis' men to 42 points and guaranteed safety in their first season back in the top flight since 1985.
"It means everything and to prove a lot of people wrong is nice," Pulis said.
"I worked very hard in my career as a player and as a coach, I always get up and try to do my best and that is what we have all tried to do this year.
"The players have been smashing in every game we have played.
"I'm absolutely delighted. It's been a tough season for us but we have kept going.
"We have been battle-hardened. We didn't get off to the best of starts and we have had spells in the season when things have not gone our way.
"But the players have always believed in it, I have and the big bonus is that everyone in Stoke-on-Trent has."