Stoke City targets for final 11 games as Mark Robins quizzed on major change

CommentsSportPeter Smith Stoke City reporter11:04, 06 Mar 2026Mark Robins has various targets in mind as Stoke City head into the final 11 matches of a challenging Championship season – in the knowledge that next season is now guaranteed to be different in this division.

Stoke were a fixture in the top six until mid-December but have gradually slipped down the table as, as has been said over and again, they have been missing several key players to bad injuries.

There is a target to go into each match trying to win three points, a target to get as near as everyone back for the final seven games of term and a target to try to head into the summer with as much positive momentum as possible.

Stoke are 14th ahead of a trip to Swansea (Saturday, 3pm) and now 10 points behind Wrexham, in sixth – but 11 points better off than where they were at the same stage last season.

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They are also only four points off Derby County, in eighth, and a spot that would book a play-off spot in a rejigged format next term.

Robins said: “I think you want to set the target at 33 points don’t you? I think that our target has got to be good performances and those performances being enough to win three points. We’ve been competitive in nearly all of our games this season and that’s something we’ve got to carry on and see where we are.

“It’s 11 games so still a lot of football to be played. We want to try to crash those play-off places but we’re 10 points behind sixth. It takes some doing that, especially when you’re talking about the top of the table even in a league like this one.

“We want to pick up as many points as we can after these four games to international break – and seven when we return from that. We have to try to stay positive with it and hopefully we can get players back for that last block of games.”

Robins has sounded confident that Stoke will emerge stronger from the trials of the last two or three months – he has pointed to the experience gained for players like Tommy Simkin or Lamine Cisse – and perhaps he’ll have a bit more clarity too about how to go forward.

He said: “That’s always happening and being in this period of the season and where we’re at in terms of availability there are a lot of things we need to address and look at and change potentially – but there are a lot of good things as well, which we want to enhance.

“But those things will come later on, we’re in the thick of it at the moment. We’ve got a three-game week again and it’s a significant challenge; Swansea away then the home games against Ipswich and Watford. We’ve got a lot to do and that’s at the forefront of my mind.

“But obviously you have your plans for what may come next and really what I’m looking for is working to get everyone available for those last seven games.”

Fresh from this week’s landmark EFL vote to expand the play-offs, it is tempting to think what might have been if the new rules were in place already.

Robins has already admitted that he is a fan of the proposal – although he concedes there are certain circumstances when he might not be so keen.

He said: “I think it gives everybody a real chance. Now then, if you finish in third or you finish in fifth it might be a little bit different but it gives everyone an opportunity to keep playing and I think that’s what they’ve done it for. It’s certainly what they’ve done it for.

“What’s not to look forward to? Let’s see how that plays out.

“Hopefully first or second is something we can aspire to. On the back of what I’ve said before it is tough so it gives you another two places to have a bite at the cherry.”

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