Stoke City team news vs Hull as Mark Robins makes four changes
Mark Robins has made four changes as Stoke City take on Hull in the Championship, including handing a debut to new striker Ali Al-Hamadi.
Tatsuki Seko, Bae Junho, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Al-Hamadi come into the starting XI while Junior Tchamadeu, Andrew Moran and Lewis Koumas drop to the bench. Lewis Baker misses out through illness while Ben Pearson sits out as he continues his return to fitness having come through his first two 45 minutes for the under-21s.
Robins said at his pre-match press conference: “Hull have won a few games now, it was an impressive result last time out and they’ve altered the face of their squad. They’ve brought a lot of players in, which they did this time last year to try to reach the play-offs and this time they’ve done it to try to climb away from the position they’re in. That can sometimes help, it can sometimes hinder, it takes a bit of time but each club does what they need to do within the parameters.
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“For us going there it’s an opportunity for us to put in a good performance and I’m looking for that really, looking to try to move things forward in terms of the performance levels. I thought we’d done ok last week in a frustrating performance – when I say frustrating, we got into some really good positions that we didn’t capitalise on, either making wrong decisions, wrong choices or wrong technique selection. It’s just that final bit when we didn’t create a great deal at all, which is a disappointment because that’s not what you’re looking for.
“It’s an entertainment business at the end of the day, it’s not just about us trying to shut up shop. We’ve got to try to entertain people, keep them coming and wanting to come. I’m mindful of that and that’s a frustration. We will get there, there’s no doubt, but it is frustrating the time that it takes.
“But you’re working with really good people, really good players who all want to learn. I just want them to be free in their minds rather than just giving them negatives. We’re trying to be as positive as we possibly can with them, which I think is the only way to be.”
Stoke: Johansson, Gooch, Stevens, Phillips, Rose, Seko, Burger, Junho, Wilson-Esbrand, Lowe, Al-Hamadi. Subs: Bonham, Tchamadeu, Gibson, Lawal, Moran, Lipsiuc, Koumas, Tezgel, Vidigal.
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