Stoke City

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We asked you if you were pleased to see Stoke City boss Mark Robins handed a new three-and-a-half year deal.

Here is what you had to say:

Joe: Absolute lifesaver for the club. He's the first manager that knows what he's doing since we came down from the Premier League. Happy to keep Robins.

David: Locking up Robins is the smartest personnel move Stoke have made since bringing him on in the first place. We'll be a competitive team as long as he's the man in charge. It's a long time since we've had that kind of stability, or a season to look forward to like this one.

Lev: Absolutely superb! People at the top realise what a difference he has made, instilling an optimistic pleasure now being felt by the fans.

Dave: It's a smart move by the club, and a loyal statement from the manager. The early signs of progress this season have caught the eye, and hopefully this move will ensure that staff and players will believe that they can achieve great things with Stoke City in the future.

MadPotter64: Fantastic news, Robins has brought stability to a club that was going nowhere. Hopefully a play-off place this year but if not, he has still done a great job and a brilliant turnaround from nearly being relegated last season.

Callum: Though a huge Robins fan, I think the board have been a little too hasty in giving him the contract.

Maybe wait to the end of season first.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

Image source, Shutterstock

Leicester had two shots on target and scored each time.

Both, admittedly, came from Stoke City errors in possession. First from Ashley Phillips and then from Bae Junho, but that might actually bolster the case that the Potters were the better side in this one.

The second goal was the real killer, right on half-time but Stoke had enough of the ball and enough chances in the second half to take at least a point.

That they did not leaves them looking to bounce back from two successive defeats but far from disheartened.

Everyone who follows the club knows that Stoke need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to allow their consistently-outstanding defence the luxury of being able to make the odd error, but on the balance of play they have probably been a clear second best in just two or three games this season.

That said, they are now faced with two big home games and a test of their resolve, something all successful teams need.

Back-to-back defeats can not become a run of three or four without a win, particularly with Charlton the visitors in midweek.

The Addicks travel north having won just one of their last five and having also lost their last two, with a 5-1 reverse at home against Southampton fresh in their minds.

Two good results for Stoke over the next week and the last two games can be forgotten.

If they can recover their momentum quickly the Potters will show they have the strength of character to stay the course, even when things are not going their way.

Image source, Rex Features

Boss Mark Robins said Stoke must make better decisions in the final third following the 2-1 loss away against Leicester City.

"I thought we started off really brightly," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"But you look at the chances we had and the decision making, sometimes it's not the right one. Sometimes we'll take a shot when it's a pass, sometimes we'll pass when it's a shot.

"It's just those mixed up moments, but everybody is allowed to make mistakes, that's the nature of a human being and it's about how you rectify them.

"To give the ball away in an area that then cost us a goal, not just once, but twice, is really frustrating.

"After a really bright start in the first half, you're two goals down going into the second half - right on half-time when you give the second goal away. You know you're going to have a conversation at half-time. They came out and lifted the performance; it was more like us."

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says he's "over the moon" to have his contract at the club extended with a three-and-a-half year deal.

"From now on, we've got to go and achieve something," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Tangibly, that makes sense to go and win something and be rewarded like that. This is just out the blue and I'm really appreciative of it.

"I love being the manager of this football club. My commitment was never in doubt and is never in doubt."

What do you think of his new deal Potters fans?

Let us know your thoughts on Robins' contract extension here.

Leicester City return to Championship action after the international break as they welcome high-flying Stoke City to the King Power on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Foxes lie 12th, four points below the play-off places, having come from behind to claim a dramatic late win at Norwich in their final game before the break to end a five-match winless run in which they claimed just two points.

Off the back of three straight wins, the Potters went down to a late winner at home to leaders Coventry last time out and slipped to third, two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough.

• Leicester City have won their past two league games against Stoke and are looking for three consecutive wins over the Potters for the first time since March 1977.

• Stoke City have won one of their past 12 league games against Leicester (D6 L5), winning 1-0 in the Premier League back in January 2015.

• Leicester go into this game six points behind Stoke in the Championship table. The Foxes have won just one of their past 25 league games when trailing a side by 6+ points in the table going into the game (D4 L20), winning 2-1 at Tottenham in January.

• Stoke have won their past two away league games and are looking to win three in a row for the first time since a run of four in November/December 2005. They've already won as many away games in 2025/26 as they managed in the entirety of 2024/25 (4).

• Leicester's Abdul Fatawu ranks first for ball carries (291), shots after a ball carry (28) and ball carry distance (3,448 metres) in the Championship this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City striker Divin Mubama scored twice as England Under-21s moved to the top of their European Championship qualifying group.

The on-loan Manchester City forward scored the first and fourth goals in a 4-0 win over Slovakia in Presov.

Mubama's brace made it three goals in his past two games for the U21 side after he scored in a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland at Birmingham's St Andrew's Stadium last Friday.

England are the defending European champions having won the title in the summer when beating Germany 3-2 in the final, also in Slovakia.

Stoke City loanee Jamie Donley opened his international account during Northern Ireland's final World Cup qualifier on Monday night.

Donley converted a penalty in the 1-0 win over Luxembourg which was the 20-year-old's second start for his national team.

The Potters forward, on loan from Spurs, earned plaudits from Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill who called Donley the "best player on the pitch".

He continued: "Look, there's no secret that the nine is a problem position for us. I think Jamie has different attributes maybe from some of the other strikers.

"I thought he did really well in the game. He's clever, his link-up play is good. He is a very talented boy."

Is Donley ready to fill Northern Ireland's 'problem position'?

"I think there's a fair chance that Stoke City get promoted this season.

"A third of the way into the season, we are in third - it's in Stoke's hands, it's not as if they are relying on other teams to drop points here, they are massively in it. It's going to be themselves who mess this opportunity up if anything."

With a third of the season put into past tense, Lucas Yeomans and Ben Rowley take a look at Stoke City's promotion chances following last weekend's defeat by league leaders Coventry City.

Listen to the full episode of A Cold Wet Tuesday Night and more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Stoke City boss Mark Robins said his side were not at their best but were unlucky to lose out to his former club Coventry City.

Ephron Mason-Clark grabbed a late winner in a tight game of few chances.

"I think the manner of the defeat is even more difficult to take," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "I'm disappointed with the result, I'm not disappointed with the effort we showed – the lads have given everything and we've been really competitive.

"I can't remember any clear-cut chances that they had – there was some good play but they play for corners, long throws and put you under pressure that way.

"We didn't mark properly from the long throw and we got punished for it, that's the disappointment for us.

"In terms of overall play, it was pretty nip and tuck but we had the best chance of the game with Mill (Manhoef) right in front of the goal from a Sorba Thomas cross and we didn't take it.

"That was huge – had we taken that, it could have been slightly different. I thought one or two were off it today, we didn't get enough of a spark when we needed that."

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."

Image source, Opta

Game of the weekend? Not many would argue. Table-topping Coventry head to closest challengers Stoke City, managed by their former boss Mark Robins on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Sky Blues bounced back from their first defeat of the season at Wrexham last Friday by coming from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-1 at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night.

Frank Lampard's men sit four points clear of Stoke, who moved into second courtesy of a 3-0 win at Oxford United on the same night, the Potters' third straight win, with nine goals scored and only one conceded in that run.

Stoke have the best defence in the division, with only nine goals against them in 14 matches while Coventry are the leading scorers, by a mile, with 39 and a goal difference of +26 - more than double any other side in the division.

• Stoke have won just one of their past six home league games against Coventry (D1 L4), though it was a 1-0 victory in this exact fixture last season.

• Since their return to the Championship in 2020, Coventry have lost just two of their 10 league meetings with Stoke (W5 D3).

• Stoke have won their past three league games – they last won four in a row in August 2024 (the 4th game of which was against Coventry), while they last did so in the same season in December 2011.

• Coventry have scored at least twice in each of their past eight league games – only once have they ever done so in nine in a row, with that run coming back in March/April 1932.

• Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante is the highest scorer in the Championship this season, with his 10 goals already just one short of his best return in a Football League campaign (11 in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24).

"If they haven't laid a marker down already over the past couple of games, what a marker it would be to beat Coventry City as well."

Lucas Yeomans and Ben Rowley are joined by BBC Radio Stoke's Mark Elliott and Angela Smith to discuss yet another stomping victory for Stoke City that puts them up to second in the Championship the table.

The Potters face league leaders Coventry City on Saturday and the team are feeling positive - is it time to believe in a promotion push or, dare we say it, a title race?

Listen to the full episode of A Cold Wet Tuesday Night and more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

Image source, Getty Images

This time last week, everyone was worried whether Stoke City had enough goals in the side to sustain their brilliant start to the season.

Two games and eight goals later, those worries have been emphatically dismissed.

Stoke scored three great goals at Oxford, Lewis Baker doubled his tally for the season with a brace and Steven Nzonzi scored a brilliant goal, his first since rejoining the club.

Nzonzi described it as a "good hit", looking and sounding typically cool as he did so and promised that there's more to come from him as he plays his way up to full fitness.

Given he looked like a Rolls Royce at times despite the difficult conditions, that's brilliant to hear and gives Mark Robins the right sort of selection dilemmas in midfield.

Baker has played well in an advanced role and as a deep-lying midfielder and Nzonzi has put himself firmly in the conversation to start more games despite the performances of Tatsuki Seko, possibly Stoke's most improved player this season.

Tomas Rigo has shown his quality in flashes and will get better as he acclimatises to English football and Ben Pearson has been a dependable presence whenever he's been called upon.

Bae Junho remains an enigma but has bags of talent, leaving Robins with plenty of options to choose from.

The prospect of a home game against top of the table Coventry with The Potters in second is as exciting as anything Stoke have had to look forward to since relegation from the Premier League.

It's a brilliant time to be a Stoke fan again.

Listen to more Stoke City content on BBC Sounds

Stoke manager Mark Robins said his team scored "three outstanding goals" as they moved into second in the Championship with a 3-0 win at Oxford United.

"We were really good," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke. "Coming to a place like this, you want to try to kill what they do, and you hear everybody talking about how difficult they are to play against.

"To come here on an evening like this you have to be really tuned in, and really focused, and the players were that from start to finish. There was no little quality, there was loads and loads of determination and effort.

"They were three outstanding goals. The third was incredible because we moved the ball really well, ran forward with speed, the second was a perfect set-play with great delivery and Steven [Nzonzi] got great contact to find the net.

"It was a clean sheet too, so that's five goals and three goals [scored] and one conceded in two games against really difficult opponents."

Oxford United host Stoke City tonight (19:45 GMT) as they look to stop the Potters pushing their way into the automatic promotion spots.

Oxford didn't register their first league win until September 21. Since then, they have taken their win tally up to three games for the season. However, the U's only managed to scrape a draw last time out against Millwall, with an added-time equaliser.

Stoke now sit just one point behind Middlesbrough in the table, as they aim to get back into the top two.

The Potters face Oxford following back-to-back wins, which featured a 5-1 thrashing of Bristol City.

• Oxford United have never lost a home game in the Football League against Stoke City in eight previous meetings (W6 D2), only facing Ipswich Town more often on home turf without losing (P12 W5 D7).

• Stoke City have won only one of their last eight league games against Oxford United (D4 L3), a 4-0 home win in September 2000 in the third tier.

• Oxford United are winless in their last six midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) league games (D2 L4), since a 3-2 home win against Luton Town in January.

• Stoke beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park in their final game of October but the Potters haven't won back-to-back away games without conceding in the Championship since December 2021/January 2022 (2-0 v QPR and Hull City).

• This will be ninth meeting between Oxford manager Gary Rowett and Stoke manager Mark Robins in the Football League, with both winning three of the previous eight (D2).