Stoke City

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Stoke boss Mark Robins criticised his players for making 'naïve choices' after their last-minute defeat against his former club Coventry.

The Potters pulled back a two-goal half-time deficit at the CBS Arena thanks to Sam Gallagher's double – only to concede in the 97th minute when Bobby Thomas fired in after they failed to fully clear a cross.

"The three goals were terrible and that's where we're lacking," Robins declared. "We make really naive choices, we win the ball, knock it down to them in midfield – those are the things that are costing us in games and they need to realise that.

"To allow them to get a cross in, to allow Bobby Thomas to pick up a ball in our penalty area and allow him to drag it onto his left foot and then not stand in the way of a shot is unforgivable.

"We started brightly, we created three chances before they'd had a shot on target. Then their first effort on goal ends up in the back of our net.

"It's too easy, we've allowed him to jump into our centre-half, who doesn't see him coming, and allows him to get a header and flick it into the far corner.

"We were a bit negative and I don't know why. I've got to say they're there for the taking and today we could have won this game."

Four months after being sacked by the Sky Blues, Mark Robins returns to Coventry on Saturday (12:30 GMT) as Stoke visit the CBS Arena in a game with plenty at stake for both clubs.

With 11 Championship games remaining, the Sky Blues sit fifth on the back of eight wins in nine league games and are seeking to take a grip on a play-off spot.

The Potters are 20th, five points above the relegation zone, having picked up just four points from their past five league games.

• Coventry City have lost just two of their past nine league games against Stoke City (W4 D3), though have failed to score in three of their last four games against the Potters.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 back in August, Stoke City are looking to record a league double over Coventry City for the first time since the 1979-80 season.

• Coventry City have won eight of their past nine league games (L1), winning each of their last four since a 2-0 defeat to table-topping Leeds.

• Since Frank Lampard's first game in charge, only Leeds (12) have won more Championship games than the Sky Blues (11).

• Stoke boss Mark Robins has picked up just 10 points in 10 league games as Potters boss (W2 D4 L4). He was in charge of Coventry for their 1-0 defeat to Stoke on the opening day of this season, with this his first league meeting against his former side since September 2015, a 1-0 win for Scunthorpe in League One.

• Six of Coventry City's past eight Championship goals have been headers and they've netted 17 headed goals this season, the most by a team in one season since 2021-22, when Cardiff (20) and Fulham (22) both scored as many.

"Stoke have a better starting XI than most teams in this league - the trouble is a lot of them have been missing and we've never really seen them all at one time."

Is a fully-fit Potters squad worthy of a higher place in the Championship?

Lucas Yeomans is joined by George Weaver (aka Potterlytics) and Stoke City fan Ben Rowley to discuss what's keeping the Potters at the bottom end of the table and the future of the club should their stand-out players leave in the summer.

You can listen to the full episode and more on the A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast.

Image source, Rex

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says he is grateful to have the Potters fans on his team's side as they continue to grind out performances - if not wins.

Robins has only enjoyed two league victories in the 12 games since he took charge, plus the extra-time FA Cup win at Sunderland.

But they have drawn five times in the Championship, three of them 0-0 at home, the latest of them against play-off chasing Watford.

And he is relieved that the Stoke fans can see the effort the players are putting in to try to turn it round.

"I have to thank the fans for their support," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "I'd asked for that and they gave us it. That was huge for us.

"After the week we have had, it was important we did something that was more like what the supporters expect and what the players can do.

"The performance was all right on the back of a three-game week. Watford have only played two games this week - and it makes a difference.

"I am going to take the clean sheet and run with it because there were some good performances in there. Some of the things levelled against the players previously were answered in a more positive way and the supporters responded in kind.

"It wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination. But there were a lot of positives. It was niggly at times but I was pleased with some of the tackles we put in.

"There is a performance standard and minimum level we have to do. But the work rate they put in shouldn't be underestimated."

Robins now has a clear week ahead of next Saturday's reunion at Coventry - his first return to the CBS Arena since being sacked by the Sky Blues four months ago.

Image source, Rex Features

Mark Robins says a visit from former SAS Warrant Officer Melvyn Downes on Thursday provided some inspiration to his Potters squad.

Stoke-born City fan Downes served 24 years in the British Army, the majority with the Special Air Service, and has gone on to train special forces around the world as well as appearing on reality TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins.

While the tasks facing Stoke's players are vastly different to those experienced by Downes around the globe, Robins invited him to give a talk on facing adversity and rising to challenges as they sit five points above the Championship relegation zone after three defeats in their past four games.

Robins told BBC Radio Stoke: "Listening to different people from different walks of life is always interesting.

"His story is a really interesting one. He was obviously in a tough environment wherever he went in his career. He's still here to tell the tale.

"It's inspiring to listen to people who have had those experiences in life and how they've dealt with them. What Army and SAS people go through, trained specialists - that obviously has an impact on you for the rest of your life.

"It was inspiring to listen to."

Stoke welcome Watford to the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with plenty at stake for both sides, with a dozen games remaining in the Championship season.

Tuesday's 3-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough was a third in four matches for the Potters, who lie 19th, five points clear of the relegation zone.

After a run of one point from five games, the Hornets have picked-up back-to-back wins and sit 9th, only three points behind West Bromwich Albion in fifth.

• After winning at home against Watford 1-0 last season, Stoke City will be looking to win successive league matches against the Hornets on home soil for the first time since a run of three between 1993 and 1996.

• Watford have won five of their past seven league games against Stoke City (D1 L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• Stoke City boss Mark Robins is unbeaten in his past six league meetings with Watford (W2 D4) since a 3-2 away loss with Coventry City in November 2020.

• Watford have won 1-0 against Middlesbrough and 2-0 against Luton in their past two league games – they last won three in a row in August, while they last did so without conceding in December 2015.

• Watford's Edo Kayembe ended a run of six league games without a goal last time out against Luton, while in the reverse fixture against Stoke this term he scored his only brace to date in an English league game.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City and their supporters must be patient with boss Mark Robins and give him time to build, according to former Republic of Ireland international Andy Reid.

The Potters have won only two of Robins' 10 Championship games in charge and are just five points clear of the relegation zone after losing 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

"They need to give Mark Robins the time and backing to bring in players. He knows players and how to develop them," ex-Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Reid told the BBC's Football Daily podcast.

"I do wonder what the strategy will be at Stoke because it's been so bitty.

"Different managers bring in a few players and the next manager comes in and they don't like those players and then the cycle begins again and they haven't been able to get it right."

Robins became Stoke's fifth permanent boss in under three years when he was appointed on New Year's Day following the brief and ill-fated reign of Narcis Pelach.

The Potters were 18th when Robins took over, with the 55-year-old signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.

"What I'd be saying if I was the owner or (sporting director) Jon Walters is let's commit to Mark Robins for the rest of this season and the season after and then review it," Reid added.

"Just give him some time to build something because Stoke need that stability - I don't think he needs loads of money as he's shown he can spot a player and can make them better."

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Stoke City manager Mark Robins said his side were guilty of "naivety" in losing 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough.

The Potters manager said: "I'm disappointed. They [Middlesbrough] have lost their last five but there is too much naivety - we make poor decisions at times - which means either a promising move breaks down or we take the wrong option.

"Out of possession we are getting into some really poor positions and some of the players don't understand... if you miss those duels you are out of position and they can hurt you. They are young players and they are making [poor] decisions.

"We have to dust ourselves down before Watford on Saturday. We have 12 games to go and we have to pick up enough points to stay in the division and that's what we have to do this season before we can turn our attention to things that need putting right."

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Stoke City midfielder Andrew Moran says the squad were "really disappointed" to miss out on a "massive" opportunity for a second straight win against Norwich as they prepare for tonight's home game against Middlesbrough.

The Potters travelled to Carrow Road buoyed by an impressive 3-1 victory over Swansea City but came unstuck as Josh Sargent scored twice in the Canaries' 4-2 victory.

"To get two wins in a row in this league is massive," Moran, on-loan from Brighton, told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We really wanted that and it was disappointing we didn't do everything we could've. We felt really good after that [Swansea] win and wanted to capitalise on that."

Stoke are five points clear of the relegation zone as Boro visit the Potteries - the first of two games against sides with play-off ambitions, with Watford arriving on Saturday.

Head coach Mark Robins is slowly getting more options at his disposal, with the likes of Ben Pearson, Sam Gallagher, Million Manhoef and Ben Wilmot all returning to full fitness.

Moran is adamant that is a "really good thing" as they prepare to try and put Saturday's setback behind them against Middlesbrough.

"We've got two home games coming up now. That's the best part about Championship football - you've games every two days so when you have a tough result, you've got the chance to bounce back and give a better account of ourselves."

Under-fire Boro boss Michael Carrick takes his Middlesbrough side to Stoke on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) seeking to avoid a sixth straight Championship defeat.

Boro have tumbled down the table to lie 13th and head to a Potters side unbeaten in four home games since Boxing Day, conceding just once in that spell.

Mark Robins' side are 19th, five points above the relegation zone, but could close to within six points of Middlesbrough with a victory.

• Stoke City have lost just two of their past 20 home league games against Middlesbrough (W11 D7), a 2-1 loss in February 1998 and a 2-0 defeat in June 2020.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in September, Middlesbrough are looking to record a first league double over Stoke City since the 2019-20 season.

• Stoke are unbeaten in four home league games (W2 D2) and are looking to pick up back-to-back home wins for the first time in the Championship this season.

• Middlesbrough have won seven of their past nine Championship matches played on a Tuesday (L2), although did lose their last away game in midweek 3-1 at Leeds in December.

• In his managerial career, Stoke manager Mark Robins has won six and lost just one of his eight previous home league games against Middlesbrough (D1), winning his past three in succession with Coventry from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City manager Mark Robins said his team lost focus, concentration and discipline to hand the game to Norwich City in the Potters' 4-2 loss at Carrow Road.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "All defeats are tough but this one was avoidable.

"We didn't get things right in the press to start with because we ended up being too deep, but you have to realise that comes from being brave and the back line has to be high.

"We grew into it a little bit but the composure wasn't there when we won the ball back because of the weight of pressure.

"We had gone in 1-1 and then we're talking about imposing our game on them by adopting an aggressive mind-set. Then you have a really good chance in the game because they (Norwich) will give you chances, but we lost our focus, our concentration and our discipline."

Norwich City will look to keep their play-off hopes alive when they welcome Stoke City to Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Canaries are 12th, four points off the top six, and without a win in their past three games (D2 L1).

The Potters have won two of their past three and are seven points above the bottom three in 19th as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Stoke City (W5 D3), scoring 3+ goals in four of those matches.

• Stoke City have lost each of their past three away league games against Norwich City, last enduring a longer losing run against the Canaries between 1960 and 1974 (five games).

• Norwich City lost their previous home Championship match against Preston North End but haven't lost consecutively at Carrow Road since losing to Leeds, Middlesbrough and Blackburn in October and November last season.

• Stoke City have won two of their past three Championship matches (L1), more than they'd managed in their previous 15 games combined (W1 D8 L6).

• Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has had a hand in 14 goals in his past 16 Championship starts (9 goals, 5 assists), scoring five in his past five for the Canaries.

Image source, Rex Features

Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has agreed a new contract to stay with Stoke until the summer of 2028.

The 20-year-old has been on loan at hometown club Walsall this season, featuring in all but one of the Saddlers' League Two fixtures.

He had previous loan stints with AFC Fylde, Solihull Moors and Forest Green Rovers and has also won six England caps at Under-20 level.

"I love being a Stoke City player and my family love me being a part of the club," said Simkin. "My aim is to be Stoke City's number one in the future.

"I have played consistently this season at Walsall which has given me consistency in my game. Every game I play on loan gives me more experience and takes me closer to that goal.

"In the immediate future, I am focused on playing well and helping Walsall to hopefully achieve promotion."

Simkin has made one Championship appearance to date for the Potters, against Sheffield Wednesday in December 2023.

"Can you hear that? I think that's the Stoke City pressure cooker letting off some steam."

Lucas Yeomans is joined by Potters fan Ben Rowley to discuss Stoke City's win against Swansea City in what could be a season-defining confidence boost for a squad looking to avoid relegation.

You can listen to the full episode and more on A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast.