Your pre-Christmas form had me thinking this was about to go all Stoke again, but three wins and three clean sheets now so what sort of Stoke side and mood are we facing this weekend?

Sam: I think QPR are going to face a confident Stoke side who will want to keep this run of form going. With a win against Coventry in the FA Cup and away wins at Hull and Norwich, there’s no reason we won’t go into this game feeling we shouldn’t get the three points. Robins will be hoping this run of results to begin the year will start to build some momentum that sees Stoke climb further up the table.

As mentioned, the number of injuries could have knocked this side but with consistent performances from the likes of Lamine Cisse and recalled Tommy Simkin, it has meant Stoke have been deserved winners of these three games. You felt It was always going to be a difficult one replacing the injured Johansson, but Simkin has come in, been an assured presence in goal, kept three clean sheets and now faces competition from new signing Gavin Bazunu. On the other hand, with Cisse, Stoke were looking for more players to step up and, having only signed in the summer, he’s really started to find his feet. He scored a superb first goal for Stoke on Saturday and is currently keeping Manhoef out the team which says a lot about his recent performances. It’s another home fixture and I think the mood around the ground prior to the game will be a positive one. If the Potters can play on the front-foot then I think it will be a tough test for QPR but I think both sides have players that have the ability to win games on their own.

Ben: Injuries have been particularly cruel. Lewis Baker, a key goal contributor, has been injured for some time. ALL fullbacks have been wiped out. Viktor Johansson and Robert Bozenik both suffering shoulder injuries sucks too. However, Robins and co are beginning to compensate for them and it's playing into their hands. Four centrebacks across the defence has seen Stoke sit deeper and perhaps accidentally aids our counter-attacking strategy. Lamine Cisse, who has taken a long time to find his place in the side, is on fire and allows either Thomas or Manhoef to rest once in a while. Confidence is back in attack and it never left in defence. Stoke will feel high after their start to 2026, leaving a terrible end to 2025 firmly in the rear view mirror. A win will be firmly in their sights, if not expected.

Opinion on the job Mark Robins has done a year in?

Sam: I think Robins has had a really solid year in charge of the Potters. If there was one phrase to describe how he has done, it would be that he has ‘steadied the ship’. He’s created a real optimism around the ground that Stoke should be in the play-off picture come the end of the season. After quite a bizarre 24/25 season, he has really produced a direction that he wants his side to go in. He came in following the departure of Narcis Pelach, who never really was able to implement his style on the players and it quickly became a huge task to even keep Stoke in the Championship. Having done so on the last game of the season, Robins has since been able to bring in quality signings over the summer that have really made the difference. From the experience of Aaron Cresswell at left back to the creativity of Sorba Thomas who has provided the Potters with nine goals and six assists, it is a much different looking side this season. But overall, the job he has done so far is definitely one that majority of fans will be more than satisfied with.

Ben: He's not without his drawbacks, particularly his inconsistent approach to in-game management, but there's no denying that he's been exactly what Stoke have needed. A statesman to rule over the first team with experience and welcome pragmatism. Fixing the defence first and foremost, he's now tasked with getting more out of his attacking players. If he signs more players like Thomas, as opposed to those like Andre Vidigal, he'll find that formula in time. He's distilled the squad down to a good number and level of quality in depth, and is able to manage game time and expectations rather well. He's a good communicator and honest about where Stoke are and where they can be. He's got plenty of credit in the bank, and that only seems to be increasing over time.

January transfer window, Gavin Bazunu in so far? What do we make of that?

Sam: With the injury to Viktor Johansson, it was always going to be a big task as to who replaces him. One of the top goalkeepers in the Championship and playing a huge role in why we are where we are in the table, that loss does rather dictate January business. I think with the addition of Gavin Bazunu it brings in healthy competition between him and Tommy Simkin who, as mentioned, has come in and kept three clean sheets. It will be interesting to see who starts in goal on Saturday, whether that be Simkin or Bazunu, but I think Robins will be reluctant to replace Simkin so soon after his recent performances. The extent of Johansson’s injury is clearly significant. I think it’s a good move for Bazunu with Southampton bringing in a new keeper and fingers crossed it’s one that works out for both sides. All eyes will be on the teamsheet for Saturday in terms of who starts in goal.

Ben: Viktor Johnasson’s injury brought back Tommy Simkin from his so-so loan at Leyton Orient. Three clean sheets in his first three games signalled that he'd be the one to see out the season. However, he didn't have much to do in those games and clearly the hierarchy wants there to be a good level of competition (and perhaps protect Simkin if things go south). Sporting director Jonathan Walters has Irish connections with Bazunu (as he did with Bosun Lawal) and that's clearly been an influence in bringing him here. Reviews from Southampton are a little concerning and £8m seems a little steep as an option to buy. However, it's a remarkable upgrade on our second choice 'keeper at the very least.

Summer Ins >>> Tomas Rigo, 23, CM, Banik Ostrava, £3.5m >>> Lamine Cisse, 22, RW, Bastia, £2m >>> Maksym Taloverov, 25, CB, Plymouth, £1.5m >>> Aaron Cresswell, 35, LB, West Ham, Free >>> Róbert Boženík, 25, CF, Boavista, Undisclosed >>> Sorba Thomas, 26, RW, Huddersfield, Undisclosed >>> True Grant, 19, GK, Man City, Undisclosed >>> Steven Nzonzi, 36, CM, Sepahan, Free >>> Divin Mubama, 20, CF, Man City, Loan >>> Ashley Phillips, 20, CB, Spurs, Loan >>> Jamie Donley, 20, AM, Spurs, Loan

Winter Outs >>> Jack Bonham, 32, GK, Bolton, Undisclosed >>> Andre Vidigal, 27, LW, Released

What's still to do, any rumours?

Sam: The injuries will cause the recruitment team to focus more on the January transfer window but I think that it is one where we don’t need to panic buy. I think the main position to focus on in the window is the full-back area with injuries to Junior Tchamadeu, Aaron Cresswell and Eric Bocat which has meant that the likes of Bosun Lawal and Maksym Talovierov have had to come in to cover. There was a rumour about Cody Drameh coming in from Hull on loan but I think due to a recent injury for him, that won’t be finalised. Apart from that, the likes of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Harry Amass have been the names flouted about that are linked with a move to the Potteries. For me I think a new addition at full-back and more forward-thinking players would be welcome additions but this does depend on when our injured players will return.

Ben: Fullbacks are now a priority following injuries - Cody Drameh, Harry Amass and Sam Byram all linked. A winger to help ease the burden of Thomas and Manhoef has been mitigated with the emergence of Cisse but another wouldn't be a bad call - Abdoulie Manneh, Louie Barry and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi have all been linked tentatively. Jamie Donley wasted six months of his career here and replacing him as a backup for Jun-ho would be sensible (perhaps a more second striker type rather than a deep playmaker) - there's been no links here though, so perhaps this isn't seen as a priority at the club. For me, a box predator is the top priority with current options Divin Mubama, Robert Bozenik and Sam Gallagher all coming under the same category of "his goal record doesn't do him justice" - this will be the hardest to find: Joel Piroe links seem to be optimistic at best. Perhaps Stoke new recruitment supercomputer will find us some gems, but the key will be quality additions rather than the number of them.

Where is the team strong and weak?

Sam: I think this team has a number of strong points. In terms of individual quality, Johansson and Thomas are the two that just top the list. Johansson has produced a huge number of consistent performances to keep Stoke in games and Thomas has been able to produce key moments to get the Potters the win. The quality on the wings is definitely a strong point in general with Million Manhoef as well as Thomas having that ability to produce moments of magic. Lamine Cisse is another who has started to really produce and showed the reason he was signed in the summer. Junior Tchamadeu have to be mentioned in terms of how consistent he has been this season at right-back. Whether that be his dribbling ability or his link-up with Million Manhoef, he is a key example of a player that Robins seems to be getting the best out of.

Our defensive record this season is a huge difference to the seasons prior, having conceded the least amount of goals and up there for the most clean sheets.

In terms of weakness, I think that from an attacking point of view, we need to find different ways of winning games. The run of form prior to the new-year saw Stoke being on the wrong end of games that were won by fine-margins and the feeling was we weren’t producing enough attacking threat to win these games. When the likes of Thomas or Manhoef weren’t able to find their flow in games, we need to look to get goals from different places such as set-pieces. It’s been less of an issue recently because Cisse and Jun-ho have been providing that threat.

Ben: Stoke (still) have the best defence in the league: our forward press is excellent and we are so reliable at being able to head long balls forward away and win the second ball too. The transition into attack can be frighteningly effective, with Jun-ho providing that catalyst to make awkward passes stick to him and then redistribute out to the danger areas. They're incredibly well drilled in the first two thirds, and have developed a habit of pulling out the outright spectacular to score goals. As mentioned, Stoke can be got at from set pieces and, if attacking transition is slow, really struggle to find a reliable route to score. Injuries have seen Stoke adapt, so some of this (for better or worse) may not apply for the game on Saturday.

Revised expectations for the rest of the season?

Sam: It would be really solid if Stoke can get into the play-off places. In a Championship season that has only really seen Coventry assert their dominance, I think Stoke have every chance to be knocking on the door. Prior to the season starting, I would have said that top-half finish would have been satisfactory given our previous seven season. We’ll achieve that I think, and be satisfied with it, but with the performances we’ve produced so far there is a real sense of optimism that we could finish higher. I’ll stick my neck out and say eighth, and a similar run of results to the first half of the season, just because of the injuries we’ve got at the moment.

Ben: I think it's fair to say we are safe (hehehe) and a top half finish should be the expectation with just 20 games to go. I've been nervous to expect playoffs, and instead held myself back to merely believing that it's a realistic possibility. It will still mark remarkable progress if Stoke are in the race come the end of March, say. If Stoke can find a reliable source of goals (that isn't Thomas scoring directly from crosses or random players pinging them in from 30 yards) and maintain their defensive record, nothing is out of the question. I have hope in my heart that pundits are sleeping on Stoke, and they're not a million miles away from finding the formula to catapult themselves to promotion, one way or another.

Links >>> Stoke City official website >>> Stoke Sentinel — Local press >>> The Oatcake — Message Board >>> The Wizards of Drivel — Podcast >>> Every Step Along The Way — Podcast >>> Stoke City official website >>> Stoke Sentinel — Local press >>> The Oatcake — Message Board >>> The Wizards of Drivel — Podcast >>> Every Step Along The Way — Podcast

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