English Premier League: 5 Most Intimidating Stadiums

Away games in the Barclay's Premier League are rarely easy affairs, but a match at one of these five grounds can be positively tempestuous.

And it's not always the opposition who feel the full force of the fans' passion—the home club's manager has to occasionally face the fury.

Here are the best "12th men" in England's top league, regardless of a team's position in the table, ground size or the writer's personal partiality.

Feel free to disagree as a list like this is always open to debate...

5: Ewood Park

Just ask Steve Kean.

Home to Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park is the second-oldest football ground in any of the top four English leagues.

Since claiming the Premier League trophy in 1995 under manager Kenny Dalglish, expectations for the Lancashire club have slowly dwindled, fans seeing the club relegated for a brief period between 1999 and 2001.

But the fans' wrath has never been as fierce as it was during early periods of this current season, with inexperienced manager Steven Kean facing a torrent of abuse unlike anything ever seen during the club's poor run of form.

4: St James' Park

Home to Newcastle United, St James' Park has the largest capacity of any football ground on this list (52,409).

It is home to the Geordies, a group of fans as passionate about their football club as any in England.

It is also home to the intimidating Milburn Stand, a structure that seems to ascend into the sky and is over twice the size of any other.

Just don't mention the name change (Sports Direct Arena).

3: Molineux

Just ask Mick McCarthy.

Perhaps a surprising inclusion on this list, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Molineux can certainly be a hostile environment to both home and away teams.

Rarely has their been a better example of people power in English football than when long-serving manager Mick McCarthy saw the fans' favour turn against him, resulting in a sacking that now looks rash in hindsight.

But a sold-out Molineux can certainly be an intimidating environment for the opposition—Championship teams beware!

2: Anfield

"You'll Never Walk Alone."

Liverpool's home crowd can certainly inspire their team with their rousing anthem, and with the team playing well, no other venue can be as intimidating.

However, recent years have seen the club's fortune's slide with boos often heard ringing out during disappointing games.

1: Britannia Stadium

The atmosphere at Stoke City's home ground often reflects the passion of their manager Tony Pulis.

It has become a common perception that a trip to the Britannia Stadium is as tough as any in the Premier League.

Stoke City are a tough, uncompromising team on the field, but their 12th man certainly elevates the difficulty for visiting clubs to another level.