Mark Robins fires ‘won’t play’ warning to Stoke City players
Stoke City were dispatched 4-2 at Norwich as they were left cursing bad defending as well as a controversial offside decision.
Norwich made their early dominance count after 32 minutes when Lewis Dobbin latched onto Marcelino Nunez’s sublime through ball to put them ahead.
Lewis Baker equalised against the run of play on the stroke of half-time after the hosts had carelessly coughed up possession – but there was only one team in it after the break.
Josh Sargent swiftly made it 2-1 after pouncing on a Stoke error and it was seven goals in six games for the American midway through the half with a cracking finish from just outside the box.
A Junior Tchamadeu own goal stretched Norwich’s lead seven minutes later before Baker netted an added-time penalty after substitute Million Manhoef had been fouled.
Here are the talking points from Carrow Road…
Rotten record against Norwich
Stoke haven’t won in nine meetings with Norwich now – and Norwich have scored three or more in five of those games.
Fair play to the 1,023 in the away end who made one of the longest trips of the season despite the knowledge of that misery.
Stoke find a goal touch
Stoke have scored 10 times in five games now, which is as many as they had managed in the previous 15 fixtures. Goal scoring had been the major issue for Mark Robins to resolve when he took over on New Year’s Day and that turnaround shouldn’t be underestimated.
It’s a boost to have attackers back like Million Manhoef and Sam Gallagher, and it’s a boost to get Lewis Baker scoring, whether or not that’s from the penalty spot or his own half. The point is that they look more likely to score a goal of any kind.
It will be interesting how the front line evolves over the final three months and whether Lewis Koumas can stake his claim down the middle, Bae Junho can find game-changing moments from the left or Andrew Moran can find form with a run as number 10.
But the bottom line is probably having more and better players available, and Robins can have a good go at finding an answer from the start or from the bench.
Robins said: “That can be a positive without a shadow of a doubt but it’s just the other bits and pieces – and it’s easily solvable but you’ve got to want to do it. You can’t just unilaterally decide you’re going to do something on your own accord. You listen, get a structure, or you don’t play.”
Those bits and pieces leave a lot to be desired
With Stoke’s increased goal threat has come greater vulnerability, and Robins repeatedly made the point in his post-match press conference about the importance of hard work off the ball.
“It was a bit of everything,” said Robins when was asked if that was down to fitness, concentration or experience. “A bit of the game, a bit of the weight of the pressure, a bit of losing discipline and when you’ve got that weight of pressure on you that concentration may go, or your focus isn’t where it should be. You make decisions just to win the ball back and that’s what happens.
“You’ve got to be better on the ball to pick your way through, and we were at times. We did it once or twice, grew into it a little bit. Got confidence from the goal and came out and it settled into a rhythm pretty quickly but we were still in it and as long as you’re still in it then you have a chance.
“But we gave them too many chances in the meantime, couldn’t keep it out of the net, didn’t defend well enough and the fact you don’t win enough duels and you allow them to waltz through you at times means you are in a tricky position.
“I said prior to the game that Josh Sargent is one of the best strikers in the division and to give him that time to turn. I don’t care whether it’s 20 or 25 yards out, he can shoot and it’s given him an easy opportunity to find the back of our net. The other three goals were too easy as well.
“You look like you have to work for your own goals but the ones which go into your own goal are too easy. They missed a sitter on the line in injury time as well that could have made it worse.”
No time for Stoke to feel sorry for themselves
There’s no magic wand for anyone to wave and there have been and will be difficult days for this Stoke team, like trips to Portsmouth, Bristol City and Norwich. The important thing for what’s left of this season will be dusting themselves off and getting back at it.
Next up they have back-to-back home matches against Middlesbrough and Watford. This is still a week that can haul Stoke a long way towards the safety line if they take the opportunity.
“There’s no time to dwell on it,” said Robins. “We are going to pick up results and there will be defeats along the way. We’ve got to quickly get this one out of our system, get home, recover and get back to Tuesday evening. It’s back-to-back home games and we’ve got to be ready for that.”
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