Stoke so close to being 'really good' - Robins

Frustrated Stoke City boss Mark Robins said his Potters are so close to looking like "a really good side" despite their faltering start to the new Championship season.

The Potters are bottom, having lost all their first three league games of a season for the first time since 2010-11 under Tony Pulis.

But that was a campaign when Stoke recovered to finish 13th in the Premier League, reach the FA Cup final and qualify for Europe - and it is clearly very early days in the campaign.

After successive away defeats by two of this season's most fancied Championship sides, Southampton and Wolves, Robins now goes into a week containing the close of the August transfer window, not to mention two successive home games.

Stoke first face one of Robins' old clubs from his playing days, Norwich City on Tuesday, followed by the return to the Bet365 Stadium next Saturday of former Potters boss Nathan Jones, who currently has his Charlton Athletic side top of the Championship after three wins from three.

"It really is frustrating," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "But it's a big 72 hours coming up."

Robins knows there are areas in which Stoke's buying team can strengthen - and he said he would like further additions, as well as exits, knowing also that Wales striker Sorba Thomas has been a target for Hull City. But Robins is also well aware of just how much money has already been spent by the Coates family.

"The owners have been absolutely magnificent," added Robins. "He's spent a lot of money, not just in this window but over time.

"We need more. But people also have to move out. Let's see what happens."

The main consideration is cutting out the errors that have led to Stoke losing three games they have at times dominated - 2-1 at home to Swansea on the first day, 3-1 at Southampton and now Saturday's 4-1 loss at Wolves.

"We're authors of our own downfall for the second week running," he said. "Seven goals in two games away from home. We've conceded goals for fun.

"We've killed ourselves, giving the ball away too cheaply. We're not winning those balls in the right areas.

"We've missed tackles and we've missed easy chances. And we've capitulated.

"We look a decent side when we do the right things. We're almost really good, but we're just not very good in certain moments."