Boss Robins is left frustrated as Potters lose out at home

STOKE City have slipped to fourth in the Championship after a frustrating home defeat to Hull. Here are the talking points from the bet365 Stadium...

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There aren’t many times that you can pull out a rallying call but this felt like one of them.

Mark Robins was clearly fired up from the way the afternoon had unravelled and delivered a passionate, eloquent summary of where Stoke City sit at the moment. The bottom line was that anyone who is content with mid-table will not be around for long.

Stoke look like a genuinely good team for large chunks at the moment but they have to follow that through with a ruthless streak that proves it.

They should have finished Hull off in the first half. They should have been merciless. They can’t afford to lose games they should draw or win and expect to stay around the top six or top two - and they are good enough to stay around the top six and top two.

The scenes at full-time will have hopefully left something in their belly. Screw being nearly men and dictate your own fate.

MARK ROBINS: I'M FRUSTRATED, REALLY FRUSTRATED

Never mind taking encouragement from performances, performances have to go hand in hand with results more often than not if you're going to challenge for promotion.

Robins didn’t mince his words about what needed to improve.