THE WAY I SEE IT

'Positioning is key skill to being a master in the middle'

- By Mike Pejic

OUR eyebrows raised at Stoke City's fixture list when we looked back in September and they had four away games coming up in the next five. To come through that little run with eight points is commendable - and now they have to take advantage of it by following it up over a run of four home games from the next six.

We've got games coming up against teams who are up there with us - Bristol City today, Coventry, Leicester, Charlton and Hull.

If you can come out of that still in the pack then you can really back yourselves to have a strong season, even if we'd then be saying the same about the matches to follow. There's just no let up in the Championship.

Mark Robins will need strong performances from all the players he calls upon and, at the back of his mind, he'll also be thinking about January and next summer and his longer-term plans to make the squad stronger.

One of the main positions that he must still be weighing up is that midfield holding role that is so crucial to the team.

I thought Ben Pearson did well last week at Portsmouth, particularly in the first half, but he has only played more than 80 minutes in three games so far this season. I hope he can do it but it is a big ask to prove to his manager that he can be trusted to churn out full 90s as often as is needed in this division. If he can't, I think it will be a key target to bring in.

You will have heard and read me going on about it enough over the years. The player in this position has to be so disciplined in front of the two centre-backs. You have to be rigid.