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  1. No Stoke doom and gloom after opening loss - Robinspublished at 14:03 BST

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    Robins: 'It's what we do moving forward that matters'

    Stoke boss Mark Robins insists there is no "doom and gloom" around the club following their opening-day home league defeat by Swansea City as he prepares his side for Saturday's trip to Southampton.

    The 10-man Potters won 2-1 at St. Mary's a year ago - their third victory in their first three Championship matches last season.

    They travel to the south coast having lost 2-1 at home to the Swans last weekend but Robins told BBC Radio Stoke the result has not had a negative effect on his squad,

    "It's [the Southampton game] on the back of the defeat on Saturday and everything around you is doom and gloom - it isn't that," Robins said.

    "You shake things off, we look back at what happened and what we maybe could have done better.

    "We were in that game, I don't think we deserved to lose, we could and should have had three points from it with the chances that we had.

    "So whilst you're not fluid or free flowing - they weren't either, they looked like they have a settled squad, a settled way of doing things and I thought we coped with that apart from two moments down the side that ended up costing us goals."

    Robins has overseen a busy summer of ins and outs at the club, as well as changes in training and off the field to try to avoid a repeat of last season's injury crisis.

    He said that transition will continue to develop on the pitch.

    "There will be a way of getting players in the positions that they're really comfortable with and that takes a little bit of time," he said.

    "[We've had] interesting conversations, when the work's getting done, things are sort of dripped in. You can see things happening in training that might mean certain differences to where people want to be or feel most comfortable on the pitch, where those partnerships start to be formed."

    Robins is also confident last season's win at St. Mary's will give the players - especially those who were part of it - added belief when they take on the Saints.

    "Obviously each season is different but we go down with the same aim. It's a great place to go and play your football and we look forward to it.

    "You can have good memories of places and you can glean something from that and if you can do that, then brilliant.

    "It's what we do now, it's what we do moving forwards that matters. The fact you've been somewhere and taken the points is a good experience.

    "I think last season we ended up without the ball so much, so can we have the ball a little bit more? - which will impact the game in a positive way."

  2. 'I thought he'd play a role in the Premier League'published at 11:33 BST

    George Hirst smiling in his blue Ipswich Town home kit after the side sealed promotion last seasonImage source, Getty Images

    Stoke City are being heavily linked with Ipswich Town striker George Hirst and Tractor Boys fans feel it could be a coup for the Championship side.

    The Scotland international scored 11 goals in 42 games during Ipswich's promotion run last season, though he only netted three times in 26 appearances in their previous Premier League campaign after issues with his knee.

    "No offence to Stoke but I was expecting him to rock up at one of the parachute teams, if I'm honest," Richard Woodward of the Blue Monday podcast, external told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "I did think he has a role to play for Ipswich maybe but things have shifted a bit with Kieran McKenna moving on.

    "I think the key thing for him is confidence. He struggled for consistent minutes but when he got in the team, when he was fit - and he has had a few injuries - I can't praise him enough."

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

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    ‘I thought he had a role to play for us in the Premier League’

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  3. Pick of the stats: Southampton v Stoke Citypublished at 09:25 BST

    The Southampton and Stoke City club crests side by side

    These two sides are hoping to bounce back from defeats on the opening weekend of the Championship season - both losing 2-1.

    Stoke managed only 22 points away from home last season while Southampton's home record was only bettered by the promoted duo of Coventry City and Ipswich Town.

    • Southampton won 2-0 away against Stoke in their most recent league meeting in January but have not won back-to-back league games against the Potters since October 2006.

    • Stoke City are unbeaten in each of their past five away league games against Saints (W4 D1); among 2026-27 Championship opponents, the Potters are only on a longer unbeaten streak away to West Ham United (6).

    • Southampton have won their first home game in just one of their past 14 league campaigns (D8 L5 since 2012-13), though it did come last season, scoring twice late on to beat Wrexham 2-1.

    • Stoke City lost each of their final seven away league games last season, last having a longer losing streak on the road in the Football League between August and November 2003 under Tony Pulis (8).

    • After losing to Swansea, Stoke will be hoping to avoid losing their opening two games of a league campaign for just the third time this century, after 2010-11 and 2019-20.

  4. Burton sign Fulham defender Araujopublished at 15:37 BST 19 August

    Harvey Araujo playing for Colchester United in their yellow kit, with two of his fingers taped togetherImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Araujo is a former England Under-18 international

    Burton Albion have signed Fulham defender Harvey Araujo on a three-year deal, with an option of an additional year, for an undisclosed fee.

    The move marks the 21-year-old Londoner's first time in League One but he does have experience in the fourth tier during loan spells with Chesterfield and Colchester United.

    Araujo made 33 appearances for the U's last season, but his season was cut short when he sustained a broken cheekbone in March.

    "Harvey is a really promising young player and someone who perfectly fits the type of player we are looking to work with here at Burton Albion," sporting director Richard Dorman told the club's website, external.

    "He is comfortable on the ball, and, more importantly, he is a defender first."

    Burton Albion will look for their first win of the season when they face Leicester City on Saturday (15:00 BST), having picked up a point in their opening game against Stevenage with a 1-1 draw.

  5. Burton sign Utrecht defender Adiele on loan published at 16:02 BST 18 August

    Emeka Adiele playing for West Ham UnitedImage source, Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Emeka Adiele played for England at under-18 level

    Burton Albion have signed defender Emeka Adiele from Dutch club FC Utrecht on a season-long loan.

    The 19-year-old began his career in the West Ham United academy and played eight EFL Trophy games for their Under-21 side before moving to the Netherlands.

    He made two substitute appearances in the Eredivisie towards the end of last season as Utrecht finished in sixth place.

    Burton head coach Gary Bowyer told the club website: "He is an exciting young player who adds depth to the squad.

    "We're looking forward to working with him and I'm sure he will learn a lot from our more experienced players."

  6. I will be there for the team - Bocatpublished at 14:27 BST 18 August

    Eric Bocat in a red and white striped Stoke City shirtImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Bocat is in his third season with Stoke City

    Eric Bocat is ready to take on any role Stoke City boss Mark Robins wants him to fill.

    The Frenchman has started both games for the Potters so far this season, scoring his first goal for the club in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Swansea City on the opening day of the Championship campaign.

    Bocat, 27, made 21 league starts for Stoke last season but is not taking anything for granted this term.

    "When the team needs me, I will be here and always answer the call," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "I just keep going, keep working. Even though I am starting, if one day I need to go on the bench I will be there for the team."

    Stoke took the lead through Bocat's 10th-minute goal at the weekend only to see Swansea come from behind and take the three points.

    "Everyone is important to the team - if you're starting, on the bench or not called up for the team, you need to be ready," he added.

    Stoke hope to pick up their first points of the season when they visit Southampton on Saturday, 22 August.

    For more Stoke City interviews and content, listen on BBC Sounds.

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  7. 'Scouting is about your eyes' - Vale legend Foylepublished at 12:05 BST 18 August

    Media caption,

    Foyle: 'A lot has changed for the better'

    Port Vale chief scout Martin Foyle will rely on his eyes over data and statistics when it comes to recommending possible signings for the club.

    Foyle scored 107 goals in 356 games for the club, managed them from 2004 to 2007 and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in June.

    He has previously filled recruitment roles at Northampton Town, Morecambe, St Mirren and Carlisle United. He told BBC Radio Stoke doing the job had changed over that time.

    "A lot of it [now] is data driven which is something I didn't have a lot of at the previous three or four clubs - not that if affects anything because at the end of the day, scouting is about your eyes and your feel for a player and obviously if the club can afford to take them," the 63-year-old said.

    "Social media has probably had the biggest affect on football, on managers and coaches, even players as well. It can be very tricky, there's a lot of lies out there and people get portrayed in different ways.

    "That's the hardest thing to deal with - but as for the rest, going to games, meeting people, meeting agents who are connected with a lot of clubs... It's about trying to be open, honest and upfront, and tell it like it is.

    "Contacts are huge - it is [about] who you know. I started about 10, 12 years ago with Chris Wilder and Alan Knill at Northampton - that was a baptism of what goes on. Recruitment is a completely different field and it's not as easy as people think."

    Vale have signed a dozen players since relegation from League One last season.

    They began the League Two campaign with a 2-0 loss at Oldham Athletic and next face back-to-back home games against Tranmere Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.

  8. Gossip: Stoke track Villa defender Rowepublished at 11:31 BST 18 August

    BBC gossip image with blurred out football stand in the background

    Stoke City are interested in taking full-back Triston Rowe from Aston Villa. The Premier League club are understood to be open to either a loan or a permanent deal for the 19-year-old. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

    Meanwhile Stoke and Preston are set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Hull City defender Cody Drameh who reportedly wants to remain with the Premier League club. The two Championship clubs are reported to have offered £1m for the right-back. (Sky Sports), external

    Find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.

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  9. 🎧 'Not the start we wanted'published at 11:01 BST 18 August

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

    Lucas Yeomans and Matt Sandoz are joined by former Stoke City striker Louis Moult to reflect on the opening day defeat by Swansea City.

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

    Media caption,

    A Cold Wet Tuesday Night: 'Not the start we wanted'

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