Robins reacts to Derby draw that seals survival

Stoke City boss Mark Robins spoke to written media after the Potters had their Championship survival sealed with a goalless draw at Derby County.

"It was a rubbish game but we both ended up getting what we needed, so that is the most important thing," he said.

"The game was so lacking in quality it's frightening, but understandable in the circumstances.

"The players managed themselves really well during the week and managed themselves through the game well today.

"Since I came in [to Stoke] in January, it has been a really tough period - I think one of the toughest of my career. It has been really difficult because I'm the third permanent manager and fourth voice they have had.

"It's been a lot of upheaval. This team should never have been anywhere near the bottom, it's a mid-table team at worst. And had everyone been fit and we'd been in earlier, things wouldn't have got down to this day.

"But thankfully we have managed to come out the other side OK."