Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. 🎧'Three points, two crackers, one bust car'published at 16:57 BST

    Media caption,

    A Cold Wet Tuesday Night: 'Three points, two crackers, one bust car'

    The latest episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is out now.

    Lucas Yeomans, Matt Sandoz and Louis Moult discuss two great goals that helped Stoke go five games unbeaten before the international break.

    Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  2. Squad depth proving 'a big difference' at Stokepublished at 14:31 BST

    Jack McGlynn and Ben Johnson celebrate McGlynn's equalising goal for Stoke City against Sheffield United on SaturdayImage source, Getty Images

    Former Stoke City defender Ian Cranson believes the Potters' increased squad depth can help them maintain their positive start to the campaign.

    Stoke were top of the Championship in the early stages of last season but results took a downward turn in November.

    They ended up finishing in 17th place, just eight points above relegation.

    However, five of Stoke's new summer additions have scored in the Championship so far this season to help them to seventh place - Jack McGlynn, Ben Johnson, Justin Devenny, Ethan Galbraith and George Hirst.

    It is their impact that Cranson believes can help the team keep up their momentum.

    "We had this last year where they were good until November and then all of a sudden the wheels came off, but I think the big difference this year is that we seem to have a lot more quality in depth," Cranson said.

    "Players are coming on the field and players that are replacing injured players are hitting the ground running.

    "They are adding to the team, there is not one of them haven't contributed anything."

    Stoke will return to action following the international break against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, 10 October.

    Listen to the full reaction below or on BBC Sounds here.

    Media caption,

    Cranson: ‘It took two pieces of magic’

    Listen on BBC Sounds
  3. Stoke's form is a reason for genuine optimismpublished at 16:36 BST 20 September

    Mark Elliott, BBC Radio Stoke
    Sam Gallagher, wearing Stoke City's red and white home shirt, shouts as he celebrates the win over Sheffield United Image source, Getty Images

    Stoke City produced two goal of the season candidates to find a way past Sheffield United and head into the elongated international break in the best possible way.

    The Championship can consider itself warned about the quality Jack McGlynn has when it comes to shooting from anywhere inside 35 yards from goal.

    In following up the one he scored with his weaker right foot at Watford with a screamer with his left, McGlynn announced himself as a legitimate goalscoring midfielder in this division just weeks after his move from MLS.

    What might help him to continue to fly under the radar is the fact that Sam Gallagher outdid him a few minutes later from a similar distance.

    Ethan Galbraith's commitment to finding a forward pass makes Stoke far more dangerous, but his ball over Gallagher's shoulder left him with a lot to do.

    The touch under pressure was perfect and the strike was even better, further underlying the fact that he possesses a mix of brute force and subtlety that few players in the second tier can boast.

    Justin Devenny and Galbraith have come up with decisive moments in recent weeks, as has Eric Bocat, and the depth of quality available to boss Mark Robins only improved further with the return of Junior Tchamadeu off the bench after injury.

    It's three weeks until Stoke play again, at Bolton, but everyone involved from fans to coaches and players can enjoy the break in matches at the right end of the Championship table after a run of form that gives cause for genuine optimism.

  4. No 'resting on laurels' after good run - Robinspublished at 12:02 BST 18 September

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    Listen: Stoke boss Robins speaks before Sheffield United match

    Stoke City want to keep pushing forward as they look to extend a four-game unbeaten run in the Championship, head coach Mark Robins has said.

    After losing their opening three league matches, the Potters have taken 10 points from a possible 12 to move up to 12th place in the Championship table.

    Robins is keen for his team to go into the international break on a positive note against Sheffield United on Saturday (12:30 BST).

    "You've got a lot of games that have been packed in - we've got the sport science team who are around that, so we have to adhere to those protocols but we'll work within the parameters we're got to try to maximise the availability of everybody," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "We're in a decent spot but nobody is resting on their laurels. We want to push forward as much as we can, as quickly as we can but there's a lot of optimism and confidence which can't be misplaced - you have to keep grafting."

    Stoke have lost all three games against Sheffield United since Robins became head coach in January 2025 and he hopes they can put on a better show this time.

    "We want to continue in the same vain in our ethos and the way we've gone about the games," said the former Coventry boss.

    "We've got a different challenge against a different team with a really experienced manager but we have to try to get closer to them than we have in the past."

    Listen to more Stoke City content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

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