Stoke need points now or pressure will grow - Robins

Stoke have won just one league game under Mark Robins

Stoke City must not let their battle against relegation go into the final few weeks of the season, says head coach Mark Robins.

The Potters have won only one of Robins' eight league games in charge and are just three points clear of the relegation zone with 15 matches of the season remaining.

"There's a clear identity starting to form (in our play) but it's certainly not there yet - we've got to get there and we will at some point but it's about the here and now," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We've got to pick up points, so the pressure grows every time you don't and games start to diminish, the pressure comes on and games start to become must-win."

Stoke host Swansea City, two places and five points above them in the Championship table, on Saturday with just one win from their previous eight league games at the bet365 Stadium.

"The players need to understand it's better now to start picking up points rather than having to do it with the last three, four or five games to go," added Robins.