Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Fine details cost 'brave' Stoke win - Robinspublished at 18:38 5 April

    Mark Robins looking onImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mark Robins replaced Narcis Pelach as Stoke City manager in January

    Stoke City manager Mark Robins called his side "brave" but said they lacked "detail" to beat Preston North End.

    Kaine Kesler-Hayden struck first for the Lilywhites to open the scoring in the first half before Potters midfielder Lewis Baker converted a 75th minute penalty to salvage a point for Stoke at Deepdale.

    "I think we were brave," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "I thought we were the better team throughout the game. I thought we had the first real opportunity when Milly [Manhoef] went through and took one touch too many.

    "If he can get that out from under his feet and finish then I think he scores but I'm not going to criticise the decision making too much although it's the thing that cost us a little bit.

    "That's where we fall down a little bit but I think we had the better opportunities."

    The Potters dropped down two places in the Championship to 20th and Robins said his side lacked a "quality finish".

    "We went behind to a rubbish goal which ended up taking a deflection and trickling into the back of the net," added Robins.

    "It's really disappointing to concede like that but knew we were in the game. It looked like we needed that little bit of impetus which we didn't get.

    "I wanted a bit more from the wide areas today and that's both full-backs and wide players to work in tandem. That wasn't quite working but we managed to inject a little bit of urgency to get the penalty at the end.

    "We kept the pressure on them and kept the ball in their box but we just didn't get that quality finish to go and see the game out."

  2. Potters and Crewe mourn prolific forward Kingpublished at 15:05 3 April

    Johnny King during his time at StokeImage source, Rex Features

    Near-neighbours Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra are mourning the death of former Potters forward Johnny King at the age of 92.

    King scored 113 goals in 311 Stoke appearances in the 1950s, placing him fifth in the list of the club's all-time scorers.

    He came through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra before moving to the Victoria Ground in 1953 to lead the line for Stoke in Division Two for eight seasons, finishing as top scorer on three occasions.

    The left-footer moved to Division One club Cardiff in 1961 before returning to Gresty Road the following year and helping the Railwaymen earn promotion.

    He played a further four years before hanging up his boots in 1967.

    A Potters statement read:, external "We send our thoughts and sincere condolences to Johnny's family and friends at this sad time."

    Crewe, meanwhile, described King, who scored 185 goals in 591 games across his two spells with the Alex, as "one of the best players to ever wear the red shirt".

    "He continued to be a familiar and much-loved presence at Gresty Road and in the local area long after his retirement," their tribute added.

    "The thoughts and condolences of everybody at Crewe Alexandra are with Johnny's friends and family at this difficult time."