Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Soumare credits togetherness for Stoke's revival

    Djibril Soumare claps in hands and celebrates with the Stoke City fans after winning a game. His is wearing a home red and white striped shirt.Shutterstock

    Djibril Soumare joined Stoke from Portuguese top-flight club Braga for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract

    Stoke City midfielder Djibril Soumare says the togetherness in the squad has helped turn their early season form around.

    After losing their first three games of the Championship season, the Potters have rallied excellently, winning four of five matches before the international break to move into seventh place, two points off the top two.

    Soumare, one of a number of key summer arrivals that included £10m Northern Ireland midfielder Ethan Galbraith, has been an impressive presence in Stoke's run and the former Sheffield United loanee said there was a simple reason for that.

    "I felt love since day one. So I'm really enjoying it here," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "I think that togetherness is really like a family on the pitch, out of the pitch. I said when I joined I still want to develop and the staff here, coaches - it was the right one for me I think.

    "If it's time to be serious we're going to be serious but in the dressing room, having a laugh with the boys, is something special."

    Soumare made 25 appearances for the Blades in the Championship last season and he said he returned to England from Portuguese club Braga this summer with more of an idea what to expect.

    "There's still a lot to develop on my football - the intensity, because I think I'm not 100% fit yet as I didn't have a proper pre-season," he added.

    "That season [with United] wasn't perfect but I learned a lot - it was my first year in England, so now I think I understand the league better and will enjoy it more.

    "To be honest, I really love this team, so I'm really looking forward to score my first goal - that will be something really special for me."

    Stoke return to Championship action on Saturday at Bolton Wanderers [15:00 BST].

  2. A horse in orange winch straps being lifted by a hydraulic arm protruding from a vehicle. A woman in a hi-viz helmet and jacket marked Animal Rescue is guiding the animal with a black strap.

  3. Port Vale manager Jon Brady watches from the touchline. He is wearing a blue t-shirt.

  4. White police tape reading "police do not cross" with woodland and a tent behind it.

  5. Two men stand side by side indoors wearing matching white T-shirts reading “Jamie & Joe’s Walking Challenge” and “Sponsored by Woolcool”.

  6. An aerial view shows a large derelict red-brick building with sections of its roof missing or damaged, surrounded by grass, roads, trees and other buildings.

  7. A view of Carsington Water from a green bank

  8. Robbie Savage in a white t-shirt waving to supporters

  9. CGI of the Etruscan Square scheme

  10. A woman in a grey hoodie with long brunette hair. She has black-rimmed glasses and is looking at the camera smiling. Behind her are shelves lined with vaping products.

  11. Galbraith comes off injured in NI match

    Northern Ireland's Ethan Galbraith with the ball looks to get past Georgia's Anzor Mekvabishvili during their game in SeptemberShutterstock

    Stoke City midfielder Ethan Galbraith held his hamstring as he left the field during Northern Ireland's goalless match against Georgia on Monday.

    The 25-year-old, who had missed the international side's previous game against Ukraine to return home for the birth of his son, was substituted off the pitch in the 65th minute with the injury issue.

    He started the match alongside Potters team-mate Justin Devenny.

    Stoke return to action on Saturday when they make the trip to Bolton Wanderers (15:00 BST) in a bid to extend their five-match undefeated streak.

  12. A woman is standing in a large industrial space, with people sat at tables behind her.

  13. Burton must respond to 'gift-wrapped' loss - Bowyer

    Dan Wheeler
    BBC Sport

    Gary Bowyer stands on the touchline shouting instructions at his players during a match. He is wearing a dark Burton Albion coat.Shutterstock

    Gary Bowyer is in his second full season in charge of Burton Albion

    Frustrated Burton boss Gary Bowyer said he had to "make sure it wasn't Christmas Day" during Saturday's League One defeat by Huddersfield with the way his side "gifted" goals away - and said this week will help him see "what they're made of".

    The Brewers have made a solid start to the season and were unbeaten at home before their 3-1 loss to the Terriers in which all the visitors' goals came from defensive errors.

    "I just had to go and check my calendar because we were very, very generous in what we gave Huddersfield," Bowyer told BBC Radio Derby.

    "We can't change in terms of the personnel and the way we're going to have to play, but you can't make those mistakes - just fundamental basics of looking after the football."

    Bowyer said the fact he had to call on teenagers Sulyman Krubally and Zac Scutt, the latter making his debut, as part of his efforts to change things from the bench highlighted why errors cost Burton so dear.

    "I think you saw the difference in the vision of the two clubs - they're gunning for automatic promotion and they've got the squad," said Bowyer.

    "I'm bringing on Sully, who's 18, and Scutty, who's 18 - so that's the gulf.

    "But it doesn't stop you winning your duels. It doesn't stop you running hard and I felt they ran harder than we did.

    "They're the best team in the league but we gifted them the goals. I thought the presents we gave them reminded me of Harrods - when you get the lovely gift wrap and the box has got the glitter in the wrap."

    The Brewers will now hope to regroup with Tuesday's trip to Grimsby in the Jersey Mike's Trophy before next Saturday's League One game at Doncaster Rovers.

    "I'm looking forward now because we see what they're made of," Bowyer said.

    "We've lost a couple of games but it's the manner [of Huddersfield] that sits differently to the others. So I'm really looking forward to see how they respond."

  14. A yellow and blue police forensics van is parked in an almost empty car park beside a grassy field. The van is positioned across a marked parking bay, with open green space, trees and a cloudy sky in the background. A building is visible on the left side of the image and several lamp posts stand around the car park.

  15. The FA Cup trophy with two red sponsors' ribbons on the handles in front of a grass pitch

  16. The Staffordshire Police crest mounted on a light beige exterior wall. The badge features a silver eight-pointed star, a circular blue and green centre bearing a white Staffordshire knot, the words "Staffordshire Police", and a red-and-silver crown at the top.

  17. Duchess China pottery building with sign above a door

  18. Micky Moore in a navy coat, light blue shirt and blue and yellow tie.

  19. A man with a bald head and wearing sunglasses, with one arm tattooed, is raising his arms up in the air. He is wearing a hydration vest and blue top. Behind him there are crowds and banners.

  20. A large brown and black block-shaped building with a bright yellow fence at the front

  21. A group of people in shorts and tshirts running along a paved street with one dressed as a giant squirrel

  22. A view of Hanley city centre showing the paved walkway between shops, with people walking along it

  23. A group of women stand in front of a pottery factory.

  24. Large orange pumpkins growing in a vegetable patch on a bright sunny day.