25,600 ways to measure Potters' progress

THERE are xG tables and there’s analysis from pundits of varying quality, bookies’ odds and even the actual league table - but a good way to truly gauge Stoke City’s level 12 games into Mark Robins’ first full season as manager is to look at the people coming through the gates.

- Peter Smith

The attendance at the bet365 Stadium is currently averaging 25,600, which is the highest it has been since Stoke were playing in the Premier League back in 2018.

There were more than 27,000 at the last home match for a 1-0 win over Wrexham and there should be another decent crowd for the visit of Bristol City tomorrow (3pm).

There were more than 1,000 in the away end at Millwall on a Tuesday night last week - and that’s impressive even without knowing Stoke's record in London - and 1,907 in a packed away end at Portsmouth on Saturday.

First off, Stoke fans are loyal. The way season ticket sales have stood up over consecutive finishes in the wrong half of the Championship is a testament to that.

But this feels different. People are looking forward to games again rather than just feeling obliged.