Stoke 'desperately short in certain positions' - Robins

Mark Robins has steered Stoke City to the top of the Championship after winning their first three games of the season

Stoke City manager Mark Robins said their EFL Cup exit at the hands of Bradford City showed they were "desperately light" in some areas.

The Championship leaders' lack of depth was exposed after they were beaten 3-0 by League One Bradford on Tuesday.

A heavily-rotated Stoke line-up went down 3-0 to the Bantams at the bet365 Stadium.

"It opens our eyes about where we are at. We've done some great business but we know where we are at," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We're desperately light in certain positions.

"That's not off the back of one result, that result is one we have to park, but we know we are desperately short of bodies in certain areas.

"But we have injured players coming back and those injured players make a massive difference."

French forward Lamine Cisse has yet to make his debut because of a shoulder injury while defensive midfielder Steven Nzonzi is also still getting up to speed after rejoining the club from Persian Gulf League side Sepahan.

Injured striker Sam Gallagher is yet to feature this season while centre-back Maxi Talovierov made his first appearance after a hamstring issue on Tuesday evening before being withdrawn after 63 minutes.

Ben Pearson played 72 minutes on his return after missing the previous three through injury while club captain Ben Gibson came off the bench for the final 27 minutes, making his return after a pre-season injury.

Stoke were also without the suspended Divin Mubama against Bradford.

The Potters, who have made nine summer signings, remain in the market for another midfielder with Banik Ostrava's Tomas Rigo heavily linked to the club.

Robins has not been moved to promote any of his fringe players on the back of the display against Bradford.

"There were very few performances that warrant any sort of consideration," he added.

"You move past it as quickly as possible. I want to see a reaction as quickly as possible in training."