Players must deliver home response after away defeat

WATCHING Stoke City at Leeds on Monday and they looked like a team who had hit 50 points, thought they were ok and could sail in calm waters through to the summer. Well, they've found themselves in stormy seas again.

- By Mike Pejic

Even if they were camped in mid-table, fans are still paying their money to come and watch you every week and you play to win.

Nothing short of that is acceptable and if the man next to you isn't meeting expectations, tell them. We just seem to accept things sometimes. It's too easy come, easy go and that game was sad to watch.

Every match you play in the league, every match you play for Stoke City, you've got a badge on your shirt that you must wear with pride.

It demands you perform to the best of your ability for every second. Concentrate for every second. Don't let anyone shirk responsibility. If you concede one it's a blow but make sure you don't concede again. If you concede two, make sure you don't let in a third come hell or high water.

Mark Robins will have been making mental notes about which players he can truly rely on and, even if he will need one or two of them in the next couple of matches or even next season, they will have to go a long way to proving he can properly trust them now.