Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Facing Coventry 'a brilliant challenge' - Robinspublished at 11:57 GMT 27 February

    Media caption,

    Robins: 'That'll be for us the holy grail'

    Stoke City's trip to Championship leaders Coventry City is a "brilliant challenge," according to Potters' head coach Mark Robins.

    Stoke were second and four points behind their opponents when the two sides met in the Championship in November and Coventry ran out 1-0 winners.

    Three months on, Coventry are still top but now 21 points ahead of Stoke, who lie 13th.

    "As a team at the top they're obviously a good team, being successful in what they're doing [have] got some good players, a depth of squad and they've got very few injuries," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "They've found a way of winning games, they play in a way that puts you under pressure. They'll put the ball in behind without any concern, get the ball up front, get bodies in the box."

    This will be Robins' second trip back to The CBS Arena since he was sacked by the Sky Blues in November 2024 after more than seven years in charge.

    "It's a brilliant challenge for us to go there with half a squad and try to beat the team with very few injuries, that are at the top of the division," he added.

    "It's a challenge no doubt but we're looking forward to it."

    Robins has also revealed full-back Junior Tchamadeu will return to training on Monday having been out since sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations in early January.

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  2. Stoke bring fun factor to performance against Oxfordpublished at 10:13 GMT 26 February

    Mark Elliott
    Stoke City commentator for BBC Radio Stoke

    Lamine Cisse slides on his knees and salutes the Stoke City fansImage source, Shutterstock

    There was a palpable tension emanating from the stands and the pitch during the last 10 minutes or so of a win that keeps the season interesting for a little while longer for Stoke.

    Seven league games without a victory will create the conditions for that sort of anxiety to thrive and a one-goal lead against limited opposition did not ever quite feel like it was enough.

    In truth, Stoke were well worth the win against Oxford United, created plenty and scored two well worked goals in a game full of positives for manager Mark Robins.

    Lamine Cisse worked relentlessly and deserved his goal while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi got his first for the club and earned valuable minutes as he builds his match fitness.

    Million Manhoef showed he can affect games significantly as a number 10 and Eric Bocat caused all sorts of problems for the visitors when moving inside from full-back into a position usually occupied by a number eight.

    Stoke got forward in numbers, created plenty and could have won by a larger margin, looking pretty comfortable for the most part despite inverting one full-back high up the pitch and allowing Tomas Rigo the freedom to attack from his position at the base of midfield.

    One defensive lapse for the Oxford goal aside, they were good and fun to watch.

    Whether they choose to play in that way at league leaders Coventry City on Saturday remains to be seen but ending that winless run was vital and they did.

    With several players reportedly nearing a return from injury too, that tension and anxiety will hopefully begin to dissipate.

  3. 'We were brave, but I'm still looking for more'published at 23:01 GMT 25 February

    Media caption,

    Robins: ‘We were brave’

    Stoke manager Mark Robins spoke to BBC Radio Stoke after their 2-1 Championship win over Oxford United.

    "I'm pleased with some of the performance and the result, immensely.

    "I am pleased with the way the supporters stuck by us and helped us get that result over the line.

    "When there is an opponent sat in front of you with a low block or a mid block then it is really difficult to break down. We knew we had to play in a certain way, and I thought we got the balance almost spot on.

    "The only disappointment for me was the defending on the set-play and we allowed them back into the game when we should have been one, two or three up by that stage.

    "We were brave, took the ball in good positions, and to all intents and purposes did the right thing a lot of the time. I'm still looking for more. It isn't quite there yet, but it was enough to win the game. It was a really good three points. It is a step forward for us."