How Mark Robins is doing at Stoke and likely to set out his team to face Coventry City
Mark Robins returns to the CBS Arena with Stoke this weekend looking for points for an entirely different reason to his Coventry City successor, Frank Lampard.
While the 55-year-old former Sky Blues boss needs three points for the Potters to help move them further away from the bottom three, so his replacement is hoping to strength City’s grip on the play-off places at the other end of the Championship table.
Since taking charge of his first game at Stoke, Robins has overseen five draws, four defeats and just two wins to date in his first 11 league games, leaving the club in 20th place, five points off the bottom three.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard reveals IQ rivalry with TV presenter wife
READ MORE: Frank Lampard outlines ‘ideal world’ Coventry system
Overall this season the Potters have won just three on the road, drawn four and lost ten, scoring 12 goals and conceding 26 away from the bet365 Stadium. But they travel to the West Midlands hoping to build on a home draw with Watford and get back to winning ways in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Robins, who could be boosted by as full a squad as he has been able to pick from since taking charge on New Year’s Day, is expected to go with a familiar formation he made much use of during his time at Coventry if he continues with a 4-2-3-1 system against his former club.
"Wouter Burger (knee), Lewis Baker (illness), Million Manhoef (illness) and Sam Gallagher, who has been building up fitness, are perhaps pushing the hardest to come into the starting XI on Saturday (12.30pm) as the manager tries to strike the right balance between experience and energy, solidity and creativity," writes Pete Smith, who covers the club for our sister title The Sentinel.
"The goalkeeper and back four will almost pick itself as long as everyone stays fit. Viktor Johansson has been the stand-out player all season while Ben Wilmot did well as he returned to centre-half next to Ashley Phillips in place of Coventry old boy Michael Rose last weekend.
"Junior Tchamadeu adds to Stoke’s attacking threat from right-back while Enda Stevens is an influential figure at left-back. Eric Bocat has returned from injury if Stevens is not available for every minute of three games in eight days, with Blackburn Rovers (home, Wednesday, March 12, 8pm) and Millwall (Saturday, March 15, 12.30pm) to follow.
"Ben Pearson came through his first full game in 16 months hopefully unscathed and Robins will have to weigh up the best balance alongside him. Jordan Thompson helped make Stoke harder to beat against Watford but will be competing for the same spot as fellow left footer Burger unless the latter is pushed into a more attacking role where Andrew Moran has been used. Baker is a different option at number 10 or Gallagher could come in as a second striker.
"Manhoef, Junho and Lewis Koumas are fighting for the two wide roles and perhaps Lynden Gooch is an alternative if he is passed fit after a calf injury. Al-Hamadi is likely to lead the line, with Nathan Lowe and Emre Tezgel tasked with changing things from the bench if required."
Stoke Sentinel’s predicted XI to face Coventry (4-2-3-1): Johansson; Tchamadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Stevens; Pearson, Burger; Moran, Manhoef, Junho; Al-Hamadi.
