Stoke can be optimistic despite 'frustrating' loss

Mark Robins described the defeat by West Bromwich Albion as "frustrating" and it's hard to disagree.

Stoke could have had penalty of goals. They hit the post through Divin Mubama and saw Bae Jun-ho fire wide when well placed. They probably deserved at least a point.

It took a rare error from Viktor Johansson to gift Albion a goal and whilst they always looked a threat, it wasn't a game in which the Swedish goalkeeper was overly busy.

The same could probably be said about his opposite number Josh Griffiths, and the biggest takeaway from this game and the first four games of the season is that games involving teams at the right end of the Championship will be tight and like this one, could go any one of three ways.

West Brom looked like a good second tier side who are well drilled, competitive and robust. Stoke look like a good and equally competitive second tier side too.

There will be countless close games for the Potters this season as we saw at Southampton and at home to Derby when Stoke came from behind to win.

Even Sheffield Wednesday made a game of the contest at Hillsborough which Stoke eventually won comfortably and they were meant to be the exception given their troubles off the field.

If Stoke can win anywhere near three out of every four matches for the rest of the season, and look as competitive as they did against the Baggies in the games they lose, it'll be a great season.

The performance in defeat and the impeding addition to the matchday squad of new signings Tomas Rigo, Lamine Cisse and Steven Nzonzi suggests the unbeaten run may be over but optimism around the club and the fan base should very much remain.