Mark Robins Makes Blunt Relegation Claim, Demands ‘Much Better’ from Stoke City Against Sheffield United
Stoke City were left humiliated after a 6-0 defeat to Leeds United on Monday, prompting manager Mark Robins to urge his players to fight for survival in the Championship relegation battle.
Leeds’ dominant win, aided by Burnley’s victory over Sheffield United, secured their promotion, while also consigning Stoke to their heaviest defeat since a 7-0 loss to Chelsea in 2010.
It marked a new low in what has been a difficult season for the Potters—particularly disappointing after their crucial Good Friday win over Sheffield Wednesday.
As the Championship table currently stands, Stoke are teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. They now face a stern challenge against a Sheffield United side still reeling from narrowly missing out on automatic promotion.
Robins Looks to Rally Squad Ahead of Crucial Clash
Speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s vital fixture at the bet365 Stadium, Robins acknowledged that his side remains deeply entrenched in the relegation fight and insisted on a vastly improved performance.
“There are only four points in it now, and we have to assume that the teams below us will win. No one is going to simply roll over,” Robins said.
“If anyone thinks our safety is guaranteed, they’re being daft.
“We have to get back on track because we’ve got a game against Sheffield United at home, and I expect us to be much, much better—more competitive. We need to lick our wounds because it was a tough 90 minutes against Leeds.”
A Daunting Record Against the Blades
Stoke’s recent record against Sheffield United offers little encouragement—they’ve lost their last two encounters and haven’t beaten the Blades since October 2022. In fact, they’ve managed just three wins over them in their last ten meetings, dating back to 2006.
Still in the Thick of the Relegation Scrap
Monday’s results saw all but one of the Championship’s bottom five teams secure wins, further tightening the relegation picture. Stoke are far from safe.
Although 50 points *might* be enough to survive, it would likely be by the narrowest of margins. With a final-day trip to face Derby County—who have proven formidable—Stoke will be desperate to secure safety before then.
Championship Table (After 44 Matches)
| Position | Team | MP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|———-|—————-|—-|—-|—-|—-|—–|—–|
| 17 | Stoke City | 44 | 12 | 14 | 18 | -15 | 50 |
| 18 | Preston | 44 | 10 | 19 | 15 | -10 | 49 |
| 19 | Oxford United | 44 | 12 | 13 | 19 | -18 | 49 |
| 20 | Hull City | 44 | 12 | 12 | 20 | -9 | 48 |
| 21 | Derby | 44 | 12 | 10 | 22 | -9 | 46 |
| 22 | Luton | 44 | 12 | 10 | 22 | -23 | 46 |
| 23 | Cardiff | 44 | 9 | 16 | 19 | -23 | 43 |
| 24 | Plymouth | 44 | 10 | 13 | 21 | -37 | 43 |
While Stoke aren’t yet part of the bottom three, the threat is very real. Teams like Preston and Oxford United are also keeping a close eye on the standings.
The relegation battle has been tense and unpredictable, and Stoke will be eager to secure safety before the drama of the final weekend. Even a draw against Sheffield United could prove decisive—provided there isn’t another surge of results from the teams below them.
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