Stoke City

Image source, PA Media

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."

Image source, Rex Features

Managing Stoke City is not an impossible job and the club has the infrastructure to succeed, according to head coach Mark Robins.

The Potters need to win at fellow-strugglers Derby County (12:30 BST) on Saturday to be assured of Championship football for next season but a failure to take three points would still require wins for Hull City, Luton Town and Preston North End to send them down.

"The challenge is there and significant - it's been branded an impossible job but it isn't," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Around the club things are good and are moving forward.

"We've got a decent infrastructure but our supporters aren't interested in that, they're just interested in getting the result we need."

Robins became Stoke's fourth permanent boss in 13 months when he was appointed on New Year's Day and is staying calm ahead of the trip to Pride Park.

"I understand the seriousness of it but if you've done everything you can in terms of preparation you can't do any more - we've all been diligent so we'll mosey up to Derby and look forward to it," he added.

"It's a game of football, it's what we do - this is important and we'll give everything we possibly can and as long as we do that we'll be fine."

Both Derby County and Stoke City face the possibility of relegation to League One at the end of play on Saturday (12:30 BST) - but one side could ensure it definitely won't be them with a win at Pride Park.

Neither side currently sit in the bottom three but remain within striking distance of the three teams below them; Preston North End, Luton Town and Hull City.

Only one of those teams will find themselves relegated but should Preston, Luton and Hull all win their respective matches, it'll come down to an all-or-nothing dog fight between Derby and Stoke.

The Rams have the form, having won both their past two matches while Stoke have lost theirs, but it was the Potters who took victory in the reverse fixture with a narrow 2-1 win.

• Derby County are unbeaten across their last four home league games against Stoke City (W2 D2), keeping three clean sheets during that time at Pride Park.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in November last year, Stoke City will be looking to complete their first league double over Derby County since the 2006-07 campaign.

• After failing to win any of their 12 league games between December and March, Derby have since lost just two of their last 10 (W6 D2), scoring multiple times in six of those matches.

• Over the last six seasons, Stoke City have lost just one of their six Championship matches on the final day of the season (W3 D2), winning their last 4-0 against Bristol City in 2024.

• Stoke City have accumulated just 50 points across their 45 Championship matches this season (W12 D14 L19) and even a win would still give them their joint lowest points tally since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018 (53 in 2022-23).

"If you would have said that, three or four weeks ago, Preston are going to have to go to the last day of the season to get a result, you'd be like no, no chance," former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff tells the 72+ podcast.

McAnuff and Aaron Paul are joined by former Barnsley manager Darrell Clarke as they discuss the upcoming Championship relegation fight and who they think is most at risk.

For McAnuff, it's Hull City and Preston North End that "are in trouble".

Hull sacked former boss Liam Rosenior after finishing seventh in the Championship last season, but have struggled since his departure and are currently sitting in the bottom three, a point away from safety.

Meanwhile, Preston are among three teams just a point above and have been dragged into the relegation fight after a winless run of seven games - and it's the Lancashire side Clarke is most concerned about.

"I just think to myself, they've dropped off a cliff, they've got Bristol City away, I fancy Hull to get something at Portsmouth," Clarke said.

"Fratton Park is a difficult place to go to... but they are on holiday aren't they?"

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Former Stoke City midfielder Danny Pugh says he "didn't expect" the club to be in a Championship relegation fight on the final day of the season.

The Potters are 18th in the table, just two points above the drop zone and face one of their rivals in Derby County on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Should they lose to the Rams, they would still be safe as long as Hull City and Luton Town do not pick up wins also, nor Preston North End earn a point against Bristol City.

"We were hoping it wouldn't have come to this," Pugh told BBC Radio Stoke.

"But like you say, it's squeaky bum time.

"It's disappointing but I think they will have enough to not get sucked into it."

The final game against the Rams will be on home ground and while Pugh thinks that will be a strength for the side, he also says there will be a different kind of atmosphere when the players step on to the pitch.

"You've got that excitement, you've got that adrenaline. You're aware there's a different feeling in the stadium," Pugh said.

"There's definitely that added tension, that added pressure when there's so much hanging on the game."

Listen to Pugh's full thoughts and more on BBC Sounds.

"I'm a little bit flat watching the game. The players are committed to trying to get a result but they just lack that little bit of guile in the final third."

BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeoman and former Potters defender Ian Cranson review Stoke City's defeat at home by Sheffield United on Friday and discuss... can they stay up?

If you would like to listen to more on Stoke City, you can listen to the full episode and more on the A Cold, Wet Tuesday Night podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke boss Mark Robins looked to take the positives after his side's defeat by Sheffield United.

The Potters' 2-0 defeat means they remain in relegation danger, although results on Saturday could mean they are clear of trouble going into the final day next Saturday.

"I thought we played well. First of all, they've given all they can give," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We've had chances, there's no doubt. We've played some good football and tried to be on the front foot against a top three side.

"All you can ask is for them to give you everything and they've done that.

"When we got into good positions to cross we hit the first man and we were a bit slow in the build-up from time to time but generally we tried to move it quickly and get the ball through them, that was pleasing. It's just that last little bit."

He added: "It's still in our hands. We've got one game to play and we've got to go and win it. The only thing we can do is go and beat Derby County next week."

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says he is expecting a "better" performance from his side against third-placed Sheffield United after Monday's 6-0 drubbing against Leeds.

The heavy defeat has left the Potters just four points outside the relegation zone but a win on Friday evening (20:00 BST) against the Blades would guarantee them safety.

"We've got to be better than we were on Monday to get anything from any game - but we will be," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"That's been the focus at the end of a game, quickly move on from a game you can no longer do anything about.

"It's at home, it's different. It's our final game at home this season and the support I'm sure will be really vocal, right behind us until the last, so we want to reciprocate."

While the loss to Leeds was a disappointing afternoon for the visiting fans, there was some brighter news in the return of club captain Ben Gibson.

The defender played his first 45 minutes since the 2-0 loss to Bristol City in February.

"It's good to have him around it again and in a headspace where he feels he can contribute," Robins added.

"You need everybody fit and available. He's the club captain so he plays a part in the dressing room as well as on the pitch."

Play-off bound Sheffield United make the trip to Stoke City on Friday (20:00 BST) as they look to build momentum going into May's knock-out rounds.

The Blades missed out on automatic promotion after losing to Burnley on Saturday, taking both the Clarets and Leeds United out of reach to battle amongst themselves for the title.

Though, while United have more work to do if they are to leave the Championship, Stoke's efforts will be focused on staying in the second tier.

The Potters' 6-0 humbling against Leeds ended their unbeaten run of five league games and kept them in danger of relegation, just four points clear with only two games left to go.

• Stoke City have lost their last two league meetings with Sheffield United, but have won their last two against them on home soil (1-0 in April 2022 and 3-1 in October 2022).

• Having won this season's reverse fixture (2-0), Sheffield United could do the league double over Stoke City for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.

• Stoke City have won three of their last four home league matches (L1), as many victories as they managed in their previous 14 on home soil in the Championship (W3 D8 L3).

• Sheffield United have lost four of their five league games in April (L1); their most in a single month in the Championship since December 2017 (also 4).

• Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Championship this season (35).

Image source, PA Media

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the side's devastating 6-0 loss to Leeds United is a "kick in the teeth" after a run of successful games.

Prior to the trip to Elland Road, the Potters had won their past two league games and had not lost in four.

But their good fortunes had run their course against the top side, with Stoke's shaky defensives being put on full display at Elland Road.

"We didn't compete. You can lose against anyone and especially to teams at the top of the league and will be in the Premier League next season but we gave them the freedom of the stadium. We didn't lay a glove on them," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We made mistakes without trying to do something right. We looked fearful to take part in a game that we looked like we didn't belong in.

"I'm not going to over-react. You don't get too high or too low. I don't have the luxury of dwelling on it, I have to make sure we are back on it on Friday.

"Anyone who thought we were home and dry that is a kick in the teeth.

"The performance wasn't befitting of anyone from any team let alone anyone from my Stoke City team."

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City boss Mark Robins said his side were good value for their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The Potters moved up to 50 points and have now won three of their past five games.

"We've still got three games to go and we still want to finish the season strongly," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I think from minute one to the hundredth minute we deserved the win. I thought we played some really good football, backed by a full house - my ears are still ringing.

"It was a really good day and really well-earned win on the back of a good first goal and a fortuitous second one, although when you need a goal to go in off someone's backside, there you go.

"We worked hard for it and were made to in the second half. They changed shape and personnel and they tried to lift the ball forward and put us under pressure aerially and we dealt with it."

Image source, Rex Features

Mark Robins hopes a capacity crowd can roar Stoke City on towards Championship safety when they host Sheffield Wednesday on Friday (15:00 BST).

The Potters sit four places and five points above the relegation zone with four games remaining after taking eight points from a four-match unbeaten run.

Robins' side are also unbeaten in their past four at home, beating Blackburn and QPR and drawing with Watford and Luton since their last home defeat in February, against Middlesbrough - which is their only loss on home turf since Boxing Day.

"There's some excitement again around how we're playing, the results that we are picking up and the belief that's starting to grow," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"What we've got to do is go and put in a performance that keeps the fans coming back."

"It really is exciting," he added. "The noise level that we have experienced so far has been brilliant, so I'm really looking forward to them getting behind the players and hearing them in full voice and seeing the players reciprocate."

Wednesday have picked up just two points from their past five games, though Robins remains wary of the threat of Danny Rohl's side, who are unbeaten in four away games, earning eight points.

He said: "They'll be set-up to try and counter, to try and hurt us wherever they possibly can. They have got a strong squad and powerful players there and are coached really well."

One more win will get Mark Robins' Stoke City to the psychologically important 50 points barrier, which should mean they are safe from relegation.

The Owls have not won in the five games since back-to-back victories at Plymouth and Norwich but Danny Rohl's side are safely tucked in mid-table and can start thinking a little bit about next season.

The Potters need to improve on their record against Wednesday if they are to move closer to ending talk of going down once and for all.

• Stoke have won just two of their past 13 league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D6 L5) and are winless in three against the Owls (D1 L2).

• Sheffield Wednesday are looking for their first league double over Stoke since the 1952-53 top-flight campaign, having won 2-0 earlier this season.

• Stoke have won two of their past four league games on Good Friday (L2), one more than in their previous 23 such games (D7 L15).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their past four league games on Good Friday (D3 L1), having won each of their previous four between 2002 and 2018.

• Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has prevented the most goals based on Opta's expected goals model in the Championship this season (15), while Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles has the second-best goals prevented rate (1.47 – min. 360 minutes).

"Personally I think it means you can breathe and relax. Not only is the result in itself colossal - we have a good gap to the relegation zone to the point where it would take a mathematical disaster for us the get relegated."

Stoke fan Ben Rowley sums up the magnitude of the Potters' crucial 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Cardiff City on this week's episode of A Cold Wet Tuesday Night with BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans.

Victory took Mark Robins' side five points clear of the bottom three with four games to play.

The pair look ahead to those matches, starting with Good Friday's home game with Sheffield Wednesday - where another win could all but seal their safety.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

Stoke City fans feel a whole lot better about their team's survival prospects after the 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Cardiff, which sent them five points clear of the Bluebirds in the final relegation place in the Championship.

The Potters have hovered above the dotted line for much of the season, always threatening to pull away to safety before being dragged back into the pack, largely due to their own inconsistency.

Since Mark Robins joined at the turn of the year, improvement has come steadily in increments and coincided with the return to fitness of a number of key players.

The past eight games have yielded 12 points, better performances and just two defeats at Coventry and Millwall that probably could have gone another way.

Stoke will be confident they can get a positive result at home to Sheffield Wednesday where a win would take them up to 50 points and almost certainly guarantee a place in the second tier for next season. Even a draw would leave the teams below them with an awful lot to do to overhaul the Potters.

One slight concern is the presence of promotion-chasing Leeds and Sheffield United on the fixture list - two excellent sides with a need for points of their own.

The worst-case scenario for Stoke would see them heading into a final day clash at a Derby side also fighting the drop and needing points to stay up.

That's the kind of drama and tension every fanbase would rather avoid but that victory in South Wales gives Stoke every chance to have it all wrapped up with their supporters' fingernails still very much intact.