Robins on a high before Sky Blues reunion

Mark Robins says he wishes he could bottle the current feeling around Stoke City as he prepares for a reunion with former club Coventry.

The Sky Blues are top of the Championship, four points ahead of the second-placed Potters, who have won their past three games, scoring nine goals and conceding only one, to boast the Championship's meanest defence.

Robins was sacked by Coventry a year ago on Friday after seven-and-a-half years at the helm but says that doesn't give any extra significance to Saturday's clash at the Bet365 Stadium (15:00 GMT).

"Them being my former employers is just a quirk of the fixture list, but it's a brilliant game regardless," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Three points is what's on this game. They are top of the league and have been flying, scoring plenty of goals along the way. We're in second, on their coat-tails.

"When you look back at our incremental improvement from last season we have got to be pleased with where we sit, with almost a third of the season gone.

"I'm pleased with the way things are going, but we can improve still further."

Robins admitted the past 12 months had "gone quick" adding: "I was out for six weeks, something like that, and then got the opportunity come and manage this brilliant club.

"There's a lot happened in between. I am delighted to be here. I look forward to seeing what the next 12 months brings.

"I said last season, when we were in dire straits by comparison, that we have to try and enjoy it. I'm really pleased with what's happening, everyone's enjoying it at the moment, if you could bottle this feeling it would be good.

"With a third of the season gone this weekend… it's going to be an interesting one – it is as competitive as it has ever been."