Stoke City

"He looks like he has found a new home and it is really exciting. It was asked last week if he was a proper Stoke winger and it looks like it, doesn't it? He loves to take on his full-back, gets crosses into the box and makes things happen.

"If I was winger coming through at Stoke, I would be thinking 'I want to play like him'."

Matt Sandoz joins Pete Smith to discuss Sorba Thomas and Mark Robins' media conference ahead of their home fixture to West Bromwich Albion.

Can Stoke go into the international break top of the Championship?

Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.

Mark Elliott
Stoke City commentator for BBC Radio Stoke

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke's Carabao Cup exit to Bradford City will probably go down as a missed opportunity for a number of the players brought in by Mark Robins to a team showing 10 changes from the one that won at Southampton at the weekend.

The Potters are flying in the league and have been fielding a consistent XI for the most part leaving one or two fit players stuck on the outside looking in.

The tie against Bradford was an early-season chance for those involved to give Robins a problem when he sits down to pick a team for Saturday's Championship game against West Bromwich Albion and food for thought for the international break.

In truth, nobody really made the most of that chance as Stoke slumped to a 3-0 defeat.

There were positives. A debut for teenager Chinonso Chibueze and game time for other young players in Favour Fawunmi, Jaden Mears and Will Smith will help their development and shows a pathway to the first team from the under-21s exists.

There were also minutes for more senior players in need of them.

Highly-rated centre-back Maksym Taloveirov finally made his debut after signing in the summer and fellow summer recruit Robert Bozenik played the whole game.

Jamie Donley and Ashley Phillips also got valuable time on the pitch.

In the end, a makeshift side couldn't match a Bradford team in good form in League One.

As a team, this XI may never play together again but few individuals did their first-team prospects any favours either.

It's a minor setback for a Potters squad who have made a great start to the season overall and Robins will enter the final weekend before the international break without too many selection dilemmas to solve.

Former Stoke City goalkeeping coach Andy Quy believes the club are future-proofing their goalkeeping department with the signing of England Under-19 international True Grant from Manchester City.

Stoke's goalkeepers have an average age of 31 and Quy reckons the club has done well to bring in teenager Grant, who has plenty of time to become adequately equipped with professional footballing experience.

"[Stoke City can provide] good training, exposure to games and being able to learn on the job. Put yourself out there and play against different sides, crowds and in different environments," he said on BBC Radio Stoke.

"There'll be a pathway for him I'm sure, which may be through the loan system."

Grant, who is the son of former Stoke City goalkeeper and current Huddersfield Town manager Lee Grant, has already shown he is an all-rounder whilst on loan at Buxton.

"He's a very athletic young goalkeeper, as Lee was. Good physique, good spring. He's excellent with his feet and a good shot-stopper," said Quy.

"He certainly is a bright young talent."

Listen to the full interview with Andy Quy and more Stoke City on BBC Sounds.

Charlotte Richardson
Final Score reporter at St Mary's

Image source, Getty Images

"We are top of the league" rang out amongst Stoke City supporters and how proud they can be of their side's resilient display at Southampton.

Three wins in three for the visitors inflicting a first defeat of the campaign for Will Still's side.

I have to shout out Stoke keeper, Viktor Johansson. He pulled off some exceptional saves at key moments.

Commanding off his line, positionally astute, there was little he could do to prevent Taylor Harwood-Bellis' bullet header - but what a part he played in what proved to be the winning goal.

Johansson came out to gather a Southampton corner, doing so with such poise and clarity he was able to quickly identify the counter-attacking opportunity was on.

He unleashed Sorba Thomas, who dispatched the chance well but Stoke's No.1 played a huge part - in the goal and the victory.

Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke's Stoke City commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City showed a different side of themselves at Southampton and left the south coast having turned a very good start to the season into a great one.

They edged the game with 11 men on the field but it was Divin Mubama's red card that gave the Potters the chance to really show the progress they're making.

Stoke started the game well without creating the clear-cut chances their work between the boxes deserved.

They were thankful for one terrific save from Viktor Johansson and wastefulness from impressive teenager Jay Robinson and former Stoke man Taylor Harwood-Bellis, but they were the better side.

Lewis Baker scored a vital goal to punish those mistakes and keeps popping up in dangerous areas in and around the edge of the penalty area. It's realistic to think he could provide 10 goals or more from midfield this season.

Mubama's dismissal, which followed a second yellow card for diving, felt extremely harsh and changed the game, but Stoke took the opportunity to show they could win when their backs are against the wall.

Sorba Thomas' fine finish from a brilliant Johansson assist gave them breathing space and showed they can be clinical on the break, whilst their defending highlighted a growing togetherness and tenaciousness.

To a man, Stoke's players all talk about the bond they're forming and the fact that they feel they're part of a group that could do something special this season.

The calm resilience with which they saw the game out had a noisy away end bouncing at full-time.

Players, coaches and fans were celebrating in unison in the corner at St Mary's and it feels like that togetherness is extending out from the dressing room and onto the terraces in a way not seen at this club in a long time.

Manager Mark Robins was again the voice of reason post-match. Whilst warning everyone not to get too far ahead of themselves, he did tell the fans and players to "enjoy this". Starts don't get much better.

So, how would Robins celebrate? "A bottle of water" with a bit of game analysis on the long journey home. That win was intoxicating enough.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City manager Mark Robins described Divin Mubama's dismissal for diving at Southampton as "unnecessary" and wondered if his striker could have stayed on his feet and scored instead.

Mubama went to ground after Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu rushed out and dived at his feet as the Stoke striker bore down on goal just before the hour mark.

Referee Josh Smith deemed Mubama's actions worthy of a second caution for simulation.

Stoke eventually held on despite their numerical disadvantage to claim a 2-1 victory and third successive Championship win but Robins said: "We went down to 10 men unnecessarily, in my opinion.

"He's got his ankles tapped by the goalkeeper, there's no doubt about that, but I think he's gone round the goalkeeper.

"His first touch has taken him around him so it begs the question why would he go down? I don't get it.

"I haven't asked him, I have not had that conversation with him.

"But I think that he can go round him, stick it into the empty net and then walk away with his arm raised in the air rather than getting a red card for a second yellow, which means we miss him for Tuesday and we've got a backs against the wall task for the remaining, half an hour."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Southampton will look to continue their unbeaten run when they face Championship league leaders Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Saints have picked up four points from their opening two fixtures whilst the Potters will look to make it three wins on the bounce.

• Southampton have won just one of their last six league games against Stoke City (D2 L3), scoring just two goals in total across that time.

• Stoke City have won three of their last four away league games against Southampton (D1), keeping a clean sheet each time; they've never done so in five successive away league games against a side in the top four tiers before.

• After beating Wrexham in their opening fixture at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton will be looking to claim successive home league victories for the first time since April 2024.

• Stoke City have won each of their opening two league games, netting three goals in both wins; they last won three successive league games while scoring 3+ goals in each in February 2008.

• Stoke City's Sorba Thomas is the only player to record three assists in the Championship so far this season. His two assists against Sheffield Wednesday last time out marked the first time he's managed multiple during a match in the Championship since September 2021.

"Watching the first two games, it's a breath of fresh air compared to last year."

Lucas Yeomans and Ben Rowley are joined by boxer Nathan Heaney and friend Liam Clarkson to discuss the optimism at Stoke City after a table-topping start to the season.

Listen to the full episode of A Cold Wet Tuesday Night and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Ryan Mmaee has left Stoke City with immediate effect after two years at the Bet 365 Stadium.

The 27-year-old forward spent the first half of last season on loan at Austrian club Rapid Wein but his spell was disrupted with injury and, after failing to make a single appearance, he returned to Stoke in February.

During his first year with the Potters, Mmaee was made to train with the club's Under-21 side for disciplinary reasons by then manager Steven Schumacher.

In total, the Moroccan international scored five goals in 31 games for Stoke following his move from Hungarian club Ferencvaros in the summer of 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City defender Aaron Cresswell says he felt "straightaway the feel-good factor" in the club after joining in July.

Cresswell left West Ham after 11 years with the club and has started both the opening two games for the Potters.

The 35-year-old has praised his new teammates and the club's start to the campaign.

"We've had a fantastic start to the season, no doubt about it, but it's only the start. We're not getting complacent or anything like that; we know how tough this division is, and we have just got to be ready for every challenge.

"Every team will bring a different strength and weakness and we have to go into that full of positivity and ready for the next challenge.

"Since I've been here I've watched the games, obviously I missed a couple, but the lads were excellent in those games, beating Burnley at home and drawing with Wolves and a couple of other games we've played, but it's a start, and that's all it is,

"I can only speak for what I've experienced up to now, but straightaway I got that feel-good factor, and the positivity around the place feels right; that's the way I'm feeling. The group, the fans and everything about it feels so positive at the moment, and we want to keep it that way."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Stoke City supporters have given their thoughts on the club's new crest for the 2026-27 season.

The Potters have been liaising with fans and conducting a voting process in which supporters could opt to keep the existing badge or change to one that has been newly designed by the club.

A vote from supporters resulted in 68% being in favour of the new identity, which is inspired by the badge that was used from 1977 to 1992, while 32% wanted to keep the current crest.

"I think it's something we should have done years ago, I know there's the 1863, but we have to have some recognition of the city with the Pot bank, the Staffordshire knot, I think that's part of us," a supporter told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'd definitely buy a shirt with that badge on if it comes out next year."

The new club badge hasn't been devoid of criticism from some supporters.

"Being completely transparent, there are probably a couple of things about the badge that I don't particularly like and that I would change if I had that power," another supporter said.

"Ultimately those very changes that some people would probably want to make, would be unfavourable to a lot of other supporters."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Stoke boss Mark Robins says his side need to keep getting better after claiming two wins from their first two Championship matches of the season.

Following a 3-0 success at Sheffield Wednedsay, the Potters' boss told BBC Radio Stoke: "I thought it was a brilliant, hard-fought win, and the three goals don't tell the full story of the game.

"Today was always going to be hard, but we wanted to start quick and that early goal settled everything.

"We spoke about coming out in the second half and getting another goal to see the game off, and we hit the bar and forced their keeper into some good saves too.

"We won 3-0, we have six points and one goal conceded [in two games] but there is still room for improvement. It's very early and we have played two teams who are tough to play against, but it will need to be better."

Mark Elliott
Stoke City commentator for BBC Radio Stoke

Image source, Rex Features

So much of the talk before kick-off centred on the planned protests by Wednesday fans desperate to see an end to the problems that have blighted their club's summer.

In the end, Stoke managed to silence most of the whistles and boos pouring down from the crowd aimed at Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri by scoring early, right in the middle of the supporters' intended demonstration.

From the moment Million Manhoef gave Stoke the lead the result seemed set.

For him personally, it was a reminder of what he can do, with new arrivals Sorba Thomas, Jamie Donley and Lamine Cisse all set to threaten the Dutchman's place in the side.

It was a nicely taken goal, slotted in at the near post and showed the close control and balance that can set Manhoef apart from most in this league when he's at his best.

Too often Manhoef has flattered to deceive in a Stoke shirt but his second goal, attacking the far post following Divin Mubama's strike further underlined his potential.

A fit and motivated Manhoef could be a real asset for The Potters this season.

Mubama is a goal scorer. His movement and work rate are excellent and he has a knack of finding space in the box. He scored for the second successive game and could have had another two with close range headers. His loan from Manchester City looks like a great piece of business.

Stoke hit the bar through Lewis Baker and Thomas was a constant threat from either wing. They were very effective going forward but were also grateful to Viktor Johansson who made three good saves to keep the game comfortable.

The opening two games offer real hope that Stoke can compete at the right end of the table this season and after the game, manager Mark Robins said he's determined that his side will continue to improve.

Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the signing of winger Lamine Cisse took longer than anticipated due to the Frenchman's injury.

Cisse is currently nursing a minor shoulder injury but fans can expect to see their first glimpse of the 22-year-old, who joined the club on Thursday, sooner rather than later.

"Thankfully, it's not as severe as we were fearing, and he's someone we've been looking at for a while," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I look forward to him being fit, and I would imagine that won't be too long, so we are just looking forward to getting him going."

Robins has also confirmed that summer signing Maksym Talovierov has returned to training following a minor hamstring injury.

"It's great to have him back on the grass to see where he's at and try to get him up to speed as quickly as possible so he can play a part," the 55-year-old added.

Listen to the full pre-match interview with Robins and more on BBC Sounds.