‘Fate conspiring against’ Stoke City as Mark Robins gears up for survival battle
‘Bad luck’ and ‘fate conspiring against them’ is adding to Stoke City’s woes in their bid to avoid relegation from the Championship.
That’s the view of EFL pundit Don Goodman, who believes Mark Robins’ Potters have some “huge” matches on the horizon in their survival bid. Stoke are just one point above the relegation zone in 20th place with eight matches left to play.
They have won just two of their last seven matches to slide down the table and face three of the current bottom four teams – Luton Town (23rd), Cardiff City (21st) and Derby County (22nd) – during the run-in. They host the Hatters at the bet365 Stadium on April 8 before travelling to Cardiff just four days later. Robins’ side then face Derby at Pride Park on the final day of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Essential EFL podcast, former Sunderland striker Goodman said: “Stoke are the ones where fate seems to be conspiring against them.
“They can’t get too down about it, but when they went back to Coventry they concede in the 97th minute and it transpires Haji Wright was in an offside position. That’s really bad luck.
“They beat Blackburn and you think ‘there you go’, but they then concede a 94th-minute penalty to Millwall, which never was a penalty, and it costs them again. So they must feel dagainst them, but they have some huge games coming up.”
Derby are in the best form of the teams towards the bottom, having won their last three matches under new boss John Eustace.
“I thought they (Derby) were doomed, I have to be honest,” added Goodman.
“John (Eustace) went in and they lost their first three without scoring a goal. I think he’d resigned himself to being a League One manager at a club which was stable and ambitious rather than trying to stay in with Blackburn.
“But what a chance they’ve given themselves, they’re the ones who’ve really thrown the cat among the pigeons. I don’t know what you’re getting with Cardiff. Their results are all clutches, they go unbeaten for a period and then go without a win,” he continued.
“We thought when Gary Rowett went into Oxford and had that amazing run, they’re clear – but they’ve been sucked back in. And Hull City, though they are getting positive results now, are only three points clear.”
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