Stoke & Staffordshire

Latest Updates

  1. A police mugshot of a man with short greying hair, wearing a shite shirt and a red jumper.

  2. A man with a pink mohican and bushy dark beard smiles at the camera from a catering van. He is wearing an apron, and a pink T-shirt with a cartoon of his face on it. In the background are rows of jars on shelves, and a potato oven.

  3. A Google street view image showing a two-storey house behind a tree and a wall. A purple sign saying "Collinson Court" is standing on a green patch next to the wall. A number of cars can be seen parked in a line by the wall.

  4. Eight people stood outside number 10 Downing Street, holding copies of a black booklet. The three women and five men are all wearing coats and jackets and smiling at the camera.

  5. A woman who is holding her son in her arms. They are both wearing black and white, she has long dark hair and he has short blonde hair. A building and grass are blurred in the background.

  6. A building that looks like a large black television screen with steps leading up to it. Trees and yellow lights surround the house.

  7. An elderly woman with white hair rests her head on her left hand while sitting down and smiling. She is wearing a crimson shirt with chain, and a cream body warmer.

  8. Two women are posing with their arms around each other in a sports hall, and there are people in the distance behind them. One has dark hair tied back and is wearing a grey top, and the other has grey hair and is in a pink top.

  9. A young boy smiles whilst looking at the camera. He appears to be in a living room. He is wearing a khaki coloured shirt over a white T-shirt.

  10. 'Stoke must give Robins time to build' - Reid

    Stoke manager Mark Robins inside the technical area during their defeat to MiddlesbroughRex 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."

  11. Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson

  12. An aerial view of people gathered together to display the number 100. They are standing on grass, which is partially covered in brown leaves.

  13. Robins says Potters guilty of 'naivety'

    Stoke City manager Mark RobinsGetty Images

    Stoke City manager Mark Robins watches his side lose to Middlesbrough

    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."

  14. The back of a police officer wearing a high-visibility vest with the words "police" in blue and silver lettering.

  15. Children sat around a long table while they talk and eat their food.

  16. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper - a woman with short blonde hair, wearing a blue scarf and a black coat.

  17. Two mugshots - the one of the left is a bald man with a black top and the one on the right is an older bald man with a grey top.

  18. Stoke disappointed to miss 'massive' opportunity - Moran

    Stoke City midfielder Andrew Moran stands with his hands on his hips during a match Getty Images

    Andrew Moran scored twice in 35 Championship appearances during a season-long loan with Blackburn in 2023-24

    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."

  19. Marva is wearing a blue top with leaf detail on and a black jacket and has long hair and glasses. Lionel is in a black suit and light shirt. He has his left arm around Marva and is holding their award.

  20. Jack Parton with his arm around his mum, Julie. Jack has a grey hoodie on, and Julie has a light yellow top on - she has curly, shoulder-length hair. They are both standing in front of a flight of stairs.

  21. King Charles, wearing a grey suit, stands behind a bar and pulls a pint while a man wearing a black jacket and blue shirt stands next to him and watches.

  22. Eight people gathered at the side of the road at the entrance of a village, underneath a 30mph sign. A woman standing in front holds up a piece of paper with a diagram on it.

  23. Burton boss Gary Bowyer at Lincoln

  24. Pick of the stats: Stoke City v Middlesbrough

    Club badges banner

    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.