'If you start a body of work, you have to keep building...'

MARK Robins points to groundwork as he tries to explain the secret of the turnaround in Stoke City’s defence.

- Peter Smith

Second-placed Stoke go into today’s home game against Hull (12.30pm) with the best defensive record in the Championship, conceding 12 times in 17 games - four better than the next tightest, Ipswich.

Robins has managed that while using largely the same back five he inherited on New Year's Day, when Stoke were shipping shots in a twice-weekly showcase of Viktor Johansson’s agility.

Left-back Aaron Cresswell and now-available Bosun Lawal have come into the mix alongside last season's regulars Johansson, Junior Tchamadeu, Ben Wilmot and Ashley Phillips, while Eric Bocat has deputised at left-back and Maksym Talovierov has had to be patient.

Robins said: “Players, first and foremost, have been good. Recent history is there for everyone to see. Preseason was very consistent, which gives people a chance to work on things and hone whatever they need to hone. The fact we had most players together over that period of time means you can get the work into them as quickly as you possibly can to get a real understanding.

“The players who were with us last season started that work in January. | came in with an idea of what we needed to do so it didn’t mean there were big changes.