Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Stoke are like a brick wall, but need more in attack

    Sam Fletcher
    BBC Final Score reporter

    Mark RobinsGetty Images

    Stoke are seventh in the Championship under Mark Robins

    Stoke have the best defence in the league, only 23 goals have made it past them so far this season.

    Injured goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has received a lot of praise for this statistic but watching the team without him, I think the back four deserve equal plaudits.

    They are like a brick wall. Watching on, you have confidence that they will win duels, chase down every ball and keep fighting until the last breath.

    They left very little for new goalkeeper, Southampton loanee Gavin Bazunu, to do on his Stoke debut and it's now four clean sheets in four.

    However, a great defence doesn't win games or help lift Stoke back into the play-offs.

    If the attack can match the defence, they'll be near unbeatable but after one of their strikers Divin Mubama was stretchered off against QPR, there may be work to do.

  2. I've got to find a way of patching the team up - Robins

    Robins: 'I'm incredibly proud of the players'

    Mark Robins was pleased with his Stoke City side's efforts during their 0-0 draw with fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Queens Park Rangers - but he was angered by the challenge which he fears has left striker Divin Mubama with a broken leg.

    Mubama, on loan from Manchester City, was stretchered off in the early stages of the second half after being on the receiving end of a challenge from Hoops defender Jimmy Dunne, who was booked for his troubles.

    Robins described the tackle as a 'terrible' one and although he was heartened by his side's showing, he indicated that his thin squad must be aided in the transfer window.

    He told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm incredibly proud of the players. I thought they gave us everything again.

    "The support was outstanding, they got right behind the team the whole way through. There are things I'm frustrated with that I can't talk about, but everyone will know what I'm talking about.

    "With Divin, it looks like a broken ankle, or broken fibula. It was just a terrible, terrible tackle. There were some blatantly poor decisions.

    "I feel aggrieved it's ended up 0-0 in a game that was disrupted by them in a number of ways. How teams can get away with that in this day and age is beyond me.

    "I'm sure we wouldn't have got away with that type of thing, but I'm really frustrated because, again, they've given everything, we've created chances, we're down to the bare bones and now we've got a broken leg.

    "We need some help, which is easier said than done, but I've got to find a way of patching the team up and getting them out on Wednesday."

  3. Truro v Tamworth

  4. Burton players celebrate

  5. Queens Park Rangers defender Amadou Mbengue and Stoke City attacker Lamine Cisse fight for the ball

  6. A white totem on a patch of grass alongside a car park with a building and parked cars in the background. There are trees along the verge in the foreground to the left hand side of the image.

  7. A woman wearing a red jumper holds an autograph album. The album features signatures from members of the Beatles, as well as photographs.

  8. Betty Webb

  9. A trio of photos combined in a composite - on the left is a pink colour on the sky coming from a football stadium in a city; In the middle is man with medium length hair and his mouth open next to a microphone and on the left, two brown-feathered chickens standing in a green grassed field

  10. Tamworth sign Norwich winger Forbes on 28-day loan

    Brandon Forbes with the ball at his feet for Norwich City in pre-season game against Northampton TownGetty Images

    Brandon Forbes signed for Norwich from Dundee United in August 2024

    Tamworth have signed Norwich City winger Brandon Forbes on a 28-day loan agreement.

    The 19-year-old joined the Canaries from Scottish Premiership side Dundee United ahead of the 2024-25 season.

    He is yet to feature for the Norwich first team but did score on his United debut in the Scottish League Cup against Ayr shortly before his move to Carrow Road.

    Forbes joins The Lambs with the club in mid-table, seven points shy of the play-off places.

  11. Port Vale manager Job Brady acclaims the crowd after a win

  12. Three people at the back of a van filled with Christmas trees look to the camera, smiling. They are wearing dark clothes with orange high-vis jackets on. There are more Christmas trees on the ground

  13. The view onto the pitch from the stands of a large football ground. The seats are red, with Stoke City picked out in white on the opposite side stand

  14. Gary Bowyer looks across to his bench while on the sideline for Burton Albion

  15. The fossil from 340 million years ago that was found in the White Peak

  16. A woman with shoulder length dark hair has sunglasses on her head, and is holding a glass. She is smiling, and sat at a table, with other people sat at tables around her

  17. A large white model of a dog, with a heart on a banner around its neck. Three people are stood around the model, one has a hand on its face.

  18. A man with short dark hair and a beard in a white vest top with rows of gym equipment behind him

  19. A woman with light coloured hair, wearing a necklace, is looking directly at the camera. The picture has been taken outside, against a wall and hedging

  20. A large grey sign at the top of a red brick wall reads North Staffordshire Justice Centre

  21. The front of a building is badly damaged, with rubble and signage falling into the street. A fire engine can be seen, with a fire officer standing in front of a damaged car

  22. Rochdale bring in Bilongo, Duku and Perry

    Bryant Bilongo in action for Bristol RoversShutterstock

    Rochdale have signed Bristol Rovers' versatile defender/midfielder Bryant Bilongo on an 18-month contract, Tamworth striker Manny Duku on a deal until the end of the season and defender Callum Perry on an initial one-month loan from Coventry City.

    Bilongo, 24, who can play anywhere down the left-hand side, joined the Gas in 2024 and made a total of 33 appearances for the club in all competitions, including 15 this season.

    Duku, 33, scored six goals in 25 National League appearances for the Lambs, but this is a first senior loan for left-sided defender Perry, 20,

    All three players could make their debuts for Dale in Saturday's trip to Gateshead (15:00 GMT).

  23. The statue is in the middle of the photo. Buildings are in the background.

  24. Left Maureen , Ann in the middle and Doreen on the right. Three elderly women sat in wheelchairs with blue blankets over them. They have hands free microphones on. Behind them there is a book shelf with a sign that reads 'Do you remember the time?'