'WE WERE SLOPPY - AND IT GAVE ROVERS A WAY BACK'

Boss Robins frustrated as City go into international break on the back of three successive draws

- Peter Smith

MARK Robins is taking encouragement from Stoke City's new hunger to shoot in expectation that goals will soon follow.

Stoke managed to get away 51 shots in three games against Norwich, Middlesbrough and Blackburn but they only found the net twice and Robins was visibly frustrated to have three draws to show for it as he heads into another international break.

His side have surpassed outsiders' expectations with the start to the Championship but Robins knows they need to be more clinical if they are to keep nudging elbows at the right end of the table through a long winter head.

"The number of chances we've created is a positive but you can see I want more," he said. "We all want more. The fact is we're creating those opportunities and at some point it will click and they will start to go in.

"In the meantime we're all frustrated because we want that success and we want it immediately. We're no different from anyone else.