ROBINS: STOKE MUST SET TONE IN MATCHES

Boss insists Potters were too safe in areas of their performance in weekend West Brom draw

- Peter Smith

MARK Robins insists Stoke City have to be more proactive and less ponderous after a frustrating draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Stoke struggled to pose a threat in heavy rain at the Hawthorns and couldn't find a way to build pressure on an Albion team that is in dog fight at the wrong end of the Championship.

Robins admitted it was a tough watch, with centre-halves Ashley Phillips and Ben Wilmot having far more touches than anyone in the forward department.

"By the way, that's the best they've played for a while, 100 per cent," he said.

"They've sat off, they've been passive, they've not gone after teams but they've tried today, they've run about, and ended up getting a clean sheet and a draw.