Stoke City

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Stoke City and their supporters must be patient with boss Mark Robins and give him time to build, according to former Republic of Ireland international Andy Reid.

The Potters have won only two of Robins' 10 Championship games in charge and are just five points clear of the relegation zone after losing 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

"They need to give Mark Robins the time and backing to bring in players. He knows players and how to develop them," ex-Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Reid told the BBC's Football Daily podcast.

"I do wonder what the strategy will be at Stoke because it's been so bitty.

"Different managers bring in a few players and the next manager comes in and they don't like those players and then the cycle begins again and they haven't been able to get it right."

Robins became Stoke's fifth permanent boss in under three years when he was appointed on New Year's Day following the brief and ill-fated reign of Narcis Pelach.

The Potters were 18th when Robins took over, with the 55-year-old signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.

"What I'd be saying if I was the owner or (sporting director) Jon Walters is let's commit to Mark Robins for the rest of this season and the season after and then review it," Reid added.

"Just give him some time to build something because Stoke need that stability - I don't think he needs loads of money as he's shown he can spot a player and can make them better."

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Stoke City manager Mark Robins said his side were guilty of "naivety" in losing 3-1 at home to Middlesbrough.

The Potters manager said: "I'm disappointed. They [Middlesbrough] have lost their last five but there is too much naivety - we make poor decisions at times - which means either a promising move breaks down or we take the wrong option.

"Out of possession we are getting into some really poor positions and some of the players don't understand... if you miss those duels you are out of position and they can hurt you. They are young players and they are making [poor] decisions.

"We have to dust ourselves down before Watford on Saturday. We have 12 games to go and we have to pick up enough points to stay in the division and that's what we have to do this season before we can turn our attention to things that need putting right."

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Stoke City midfielder Andrew Moran says the squad were "really disappointed" to miss out on a "massive" opportunity for a second straight win against Norwich as they prepare for tonight's home game against Middlesbrough.

The Potters travelled to Carrow Road buoyed by an impressive 3-1 victory over Swansea City but came unstuck as Josh Sargent scored twice in the Canaries' 4-2 victory.

"To get two wins in a row in this league is massive," Moran, on-loan from Brighton, told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We really wanted that and it was disappointing we didn't do everything we could've. We felt really good after that [Swansea] win and wanted to capitalise on that."

Stoke are five points clear of the relegation zone as Boro visit the Potteries - the first of two games against sides with play-off ambitions, with Watford arriving on Saturday.

Head coach Mark Robins is slowly getting more options at his disposal, with the likes of Ben Pearson, Sam Gallagher, Million Manhoef and Ben Wilmot all returning to full fitness.

Moran is adamant that is a "really good thing" as they prepare to try and put Saturday's setback behind them against Middlesbrough.

"We've got two home games coming up now. That's the best part about Championship football - you've games every two days so when you have a tough result, you've got the chance to bounce back and give a better account of ourselves."

Under-fire Boro boss Michael Carrick takes his Middlesbrough side to Stoke on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) seeking to avoid a sixth straight Championship defeat.

Boro have tumbled down the table to lie 13th and head to a Potters side unbeaten in four home games since Boxing Day, conceding just once in that spell.

Mark Robins' side are 19th, five points above the relegation zone, but could close to within six points of Middlesbrough with a victory.

• Stoke City have lost just two of their past 20 home league games against Middlesbrough (W11 D7), a 2-1 loss in February 1998 and a 2-0 defeat in June 2020.

• After winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in September, Middlesbrough are looking to record a first league double over Stoke City since the 2019-20 season.

• Stoke are unbeaten in four home league games (W2 D2) and are looking to pick up back-to-back home wins for the first time in the Championship this season.

• Middlesbrough have won seven of their past nine Championship matches played on a Tuesday (L2), although did lose their last away game in midweek 3-1 at Leeds in December.

• In his managerial career, Stoke manager Mark Robins has won six and lost just one of his eight previous home league games against Middlesbrough (D1), winning his past three in succession with Coventry from 2021-22 to 2023-24.

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Stoke City manager Mark Robins said his team lost focus, concentration and discipline to hand the game to Norwich City in the Potters' 4-2 loss at Carrow Road.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "All defeats are tough but this one was avoidable.

"We didn't get things right in the press to start with because we ended up being too deep, but you have to realise that comes from being brave and the back line has to be high.

"We grew into it a little bit but the composure wasn't there when we won the ball back because of the weight of pressure.

"We had gone in 1-1 and then we're talking about imposing our game on them by adopting an aggressive mind-set. Then you have a really good chance in the game because they (Norwich) will give you chances, but we lost our focus, our concentration and our discipline."

Norwich City will look to keep their play-off hopes alive when they welcome Stoke City to Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Canaries are 12th, four points off the top six, and without a win in their past three games (D2 L1).

The Potters have won two of their past three and are seven points above the bottom three in 19th as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Stoke City (W5 D3), scoring 3+ goals in four of those matches.

• Stoke City have lost each of their past three away league games against Norwich City, last enduring a longer losing run against the Canaries between 1960 and 1974 (five games).

• Norwich City lost their previous home Championship match against Preston North End but haven't lost consecutively at Carrow Road since losing to Leeds, Middlesbrough and Blackburn in October and November last season.

• Stoke City have won two of their past three Championship matches (L1), more than they'd managed in their previous 15 games combined (W1 D8 L6).

• Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has had a hand in 14 goals in his past 16 Championship starts (9 goals, 5 assists), scoring five in his past five for the Canaries.

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Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has agreed a new contract to stay with Stoke until the summer of 2028.

The 20-year-old has been on loan at hometown club Walsall this season, featuring in all but one of the Saddlers' League Two fixtures.

He had previous loan stints with AFC Fylde, Solihull Moors and Forest Green Rovers and has also won six England caps at Under-20 level.

"I love being a Stoke City player and my family love me being a part of the club," said Simkin. "My aim is to be Stoke City's number one in the future.

"I have played consistently this season at Walsall which has given me consistency in my game. Every game I play on loan gives me more experience and takes me closer to that goal.

"In the immediate future, I am focused on playing well and helping Walsall to hopefully achieve promotion."

Simkin has made one Championship appearance to date for the Potters, against Sheffield Wednesday in December 2023.

"Can you hear that? I think that's the Stoke City pressure cooker letting off some steam."

Lucas Yeomans is joined by Potters fan Ben Rowley to discuss Stoke City's win against Swansea City in what could be a season-defining confidence boost for a squad looking to avoid relegation.

You can listen to the full episode and more on A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast.

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Stoke boss Mark Robins praised the vision of Lewis Baker after he scored from inside his own half to cap a 3-1 victory over Swansea City.

Baker provided a spectacular finish as the Potters put themselves six points clear of the Championship relegation places.

"It was a huge win. I think we had played really well, limited them to one shot on goal before we contrived to give them their first goal," said Robins.

"What transpired after that was nothing short of phenomenal. The fact that we have taken everything on board… We have got the ball in the box with quality, we have got ourselves into good positions and we have taken those chances.

"What happened after that was absolutely magic. I don't know if anybody here will have seen a goal like that [from Lewis Baker], or anywhere really. I think that's further than David Beckham's one.

"As soon it left his foot I looked at the goalkeeper and thought that's got a chance. It's absolutely outstanding – the vision to see it and to execute it. That's goal of the season for me. Lewis Baker, take a bow son."

Stoke are next in action away to Norwich City on 22 February.

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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.

Stoke City and Swansea will seek to get back to winning ways as they meet at the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat at Bristol City, the Potters remain three places and three points above the drop zone in 19th, two places but five points adrift of the Swans, who won at Ashton Gate last Sunday but went down 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night.

• Stoke City have won just one of their past five league games against Swansea City (D3 L1), and have failed to score in their last two league games against the Swans.

• Swansea have won only once in their past 13 league trips to Stoke (D4 L8), though have earned draws in their previous two visits in August 2022 and December 2023 (both 1-1).

• Stoke have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three home league games (W1 D2); they last did so in four successive games in November 2012.

• Swansea ended a four-game losing run on the road in the league with a 1-0 win at Bristol City; they last won successive away games in February last season.

• Stoke manager Mark Robins has faced Swansea more times than any other side in the Football League without ever recording a win (13 games – D7 L6).

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Stoke City have parted company with head of recruitment Lee Darnbrough after just eight months.

Darnbrough was appointed in June 2024 having spent seven years with the Potters Championship rivals Hull City.

Stoke signed 10 first-team players on permanent and loan deals in the summer and two more during the winter window, which proved to be Darnbrough's last.

"Lee has our sincere thanks for his efforts and dedication during his time at Stoke City. We wish him well for the future," Stoke sporting director Jon Walters told the club website., external

"The process to identify a new recruitment lead for the Club is now underway. We will inform supporters once a new appointment is made."

The decision leaves Stoke looking for their third head of recruitment in under a year after Jared Dublin left the bet365 Stadium last May before joining Hull three months later.

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Stoke manager Mark Robins spoke BBC Radio Stoke after the Potters' 2-0 defeat at Bristol City.

"We had more possession and didn't have a shot on target, which is a damning statistic, and one I'm embarrassed about," he said.

"We have to win the duels, have an attacking intent and get that impetus by playing in a way that you mean it, rather than the apologetic performance we've just seen. The players are more capable than that – they know that.

"Everyone who pays their hard-earned money deserves the minimum, which is a side that's running and fighting. We are working hard, but not in the right way. Mentally, we weren't at it.

"We have to be miles better than that, and have the intent and a desire to score goals. These are young players who tend to be resilient but, in a game, can sometimes get overawed. There were two moments in the game where we switched off, allowing them to shoot and score."

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Stoke boss Mark Robins has said he is happy he was able to keep Wouter Burger at the club after the German midfielder gathered interest from an unnamed club on the final day of the winter transfer window.

Speaking ahead of his side's trip to Bristol City on Wednesday, Robins confirmed discussions had taken place regarding the 23-year-old's departure from the Bet365 Stadium, but Berger remained a key part of his plans this season.

"There was a potential to lose Wouter, so I'm pleased that he's still here," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He's a really important player, he's a really good player and he's somebody who I think can improve further.

"For me, at that stage [of the window], it would have been really difficult to replace anybody in the squad, especially with the circumstances around the injuries.

"There is a good player in there - 100% there is. Wouter has knuckled down and he's working hard to try and improve on a day-to-day basis, so I'm pleased with what I've seen with Wouter so far."

Burger played all 120 minutes of Stoke's FA Cup fourth-round exit to Cardiff on Saturday, converting his own penalty in vain as the Potters lost 4-2 in the shootout after the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

BBC Radio Stoke commentator Mark Elliott predicts Stoke will comfortably avoid relegation this season after their FA Cup exit at the hands of Cardiff City on Saturday.

Speaking on A Cold Wet Tuesday Night, Elliott said he has seen enough signs of improvement in Stoke since Mark Robins took over as manager to ensure they will be safe in the second tier for another season.

"They're not far away as an attacking team," Elliott said, following the Potters' penalty shootout defeat after drawing 3-3 at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

"They get into really good areas, and so often the final decision, the final ball, the final shot, isn't the right one.

"I do think Mark Robins has the right ideas to get more out of them going forward, and is trying to implement them. I just think it might take a bit of time."

Robins took charge of the Potters on New Years Day and has so far overseen a steady start to his time in charge, losing just one of his first seven matches in all competitions.

Elliott said: "He is trying to get his ideas in place and embedded and across in a context where players are probably under-cooked on the training ground and overplayed [on a matchday].

"I think you can see that they are more of a threat, certainly than what they were under Narcis Pelach.

"The big thing for Stoke this season is they get enough points on the board to stay in the division and then you might start looking at the future."

Elliott also singled out Robins' omission of regular number one goalkeeper Viktor Johansson as a factor behind their fourth-round exit.

"I think, without being too critical of Jack Bonham, it highlighted again just how fortunate they are to have Viktor Johansson in goal in the league," Elliott added.

"With Johansson in goal I certainly don't think they concede at least one of those goals.

"I think the season will probably peter out and actually that is probably something we would have taken in the last couple of weeks of the Narcis Pelach era when it looked like Stoke were bang in relegation trouble."