Stoke City reporter Pete Smith takes a look at what's going on in and around Stoke City at the start of the international break
14:52, 06 Oct 2025Updated 14:57, 06 Oct 2025
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored the winner at Brentford.
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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored the winner at Brentford.(Image: Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Erling Haaland gave Brentford the ultimate compliment after scoring the winner against them for Manchester City.
Haaland got his 18th goal for club and country in a 1-0 win at the G-Tech on Sunday afternoon, when Brentford had pushed back in the second-half without being able to find an equaliser.
“Tough game,” Haaland told Sky Sports after getting the better of Nathan Collins and Co. “Reminded me a bit of Stoke City with Delap 15 years ago. They are huge and they do throw-ins from the middle, so of course it's not easy.”
We’re not sure why this was described on some websites as a ‘brutal dig’.
Anyway, Haaland had namechecked on these pages on Sunday morning. You can click here to read an interesting interview with Divin Mubama, talking about his season on the training pitch with the big Norway striker and coach Pep Guardiola. Plus a mention of Kevin Keen.
Mark Robins proved right on Bosun Lawal
Friday
Mark Robins said: “Without a shadow of a doubt, Bosun Lawal has been one of the best players not just here but in the whole Championship.”
Monday
Bosun Lawal nominated for Championship player of the month
Lawal is on a six-man shortlist for September, alongside Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday), Bobby Thomas (Coventry City), James Bree (Charlton Athletic), Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) and Oli McBurnie (Hull City).
You can vote here.
Stoke knock six past Arsenal
Well done to Stoke under-18s, who won their third game in a row when they thrashed Arsenal 6-1.
Lewis Bailey and Tom Midwood both struck braces at Clayton Wood on Saturday while Elliot Fearn and Max Harrison were on the scoresheet too.
That was some response after Arsenal had actually taken a third-minute lead with a penalty from Kyran Thompson.
Dean Marney, the new 18s manager, said in an interview for the club website: “When you face Arsenal nobody gives you a chance.
“I felt we started all right and then they got a penalty with their first attack but the reaction was great. I thought we dominated the rest of the game and wasn’t surprised with the reaction because of how we’ve been recently.”
This follows up wins over Newcastle United and Leeds United for Stoke, who are next in under-18s Premier League action away at Middlesbrough on October 18.
Under-21s make it a hat-trick too
Stoke under-21s have also won three in a row after beating Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at the bet365 on Friday night.
Favour Fawunmi scored two and Jaden Dixon got the other, all coming via headers – and all set up by left-back Laurence Giani.
Stoke in county cup action on Tuesday evening when they take on Stafford Town at Evans Park (7.45pm).
First call up for Pijus Otegbayo
Congratulations to Stoke u21s centre-back Pijus Otegbayo, who has been called up for Republic of Ireland under-19s for the first time.
Ireland have a double header against Albania, on October 10 and 12.
Stoke City Women edged out by Wolves
Stoke slipped to a 2-1 defeat against league leaders Wolves when their push for an equaliser was hampered by being reduced to nine players.
Beth Merrick and Amber Hughes put Wolves 2-0 up before Delphi Cole pulled one back with a penalty. It was Stoke who were pushing for the next goal but Evie Priestley was sin-binned for dissent in the 83rd minute before Ruby Scott was dismissed for a handball on the goalline. Harriet Grimshaw saved the subsequent penalty.
Reflections on the season so far
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.