Reaction from the bet365 Stadium as Divin Mubama hat-trick inspires brilliant win
16:57, 01 Nov 2025
Junior Tchamadeu of Stoke City scores their fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Bristol City
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Junior Tchamadeu of Stoke City scores their fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Bristol City
Rampant Stoke City racked up the biggest win of the Mark Robins era as Divin Mubama scored a hat-trick and in-form Bristol City were run ragged.
Mubama, on loan from Manchester City, had scored in the opening two games of the season but had been waiting patiently for his third – and then goals arrived like buses against a side which had previously been unbeaten on their travels this season and had just won three in a row.
The 21-year-old converted a Junior Tchamadeu cross for the first and then pounced on a horrendous mistake from keeper Radek Vitek to make it two. He set up Million Manhoef for the third too as Stoke took control of proceedings.
Exceptional Tchamadeu added a fourth at the start of the second half with a fantastic solo goal and Mubama completed his hat-trick to make it five.
Mark Sykes pulled one back for the visitors with a header but there was a sizeable gulf between teams that had been in fifth and fourth before kick-off. Stoke now leapfrog the Robins and prepare for a trip to Gary Rowett’s Oxford on Tuesday.
Robins had made one change to his starting XI, immediately bringing back Junior Tchamadeu at right-back following a one-match suspension. Maksym Talovierov dropped back to the bench. It was Tchamadeu who was integral to Stoke’s sprint start. He linked up with Manhoef time and again in a little and large double act that caused panic in the visiting rearguard.
The right-back already had one cross anxiously scrambled away when he span around left-back Neto Borges and sent another crashing in low in the fourth minute for Mubama to tuck away. Mubama had burst into the six-yard box to get his first goal since August.
There were chances for a second before Mubama doubled his tally for the season in the 22nd minute. Aaron Cresswell, for some reason, cut back onto his right foot when he’d been well set up by Manhoef for a crack with his left. Lewis Baker nipped a long ranger just past the far post too when he received a lay off from Mubama.
But it was 2-0 when Manhoef tried to thread a pass through to Mubama that was too close to the keeper – but the keeper had a howler. Vitek jumped on the ball but it looked like it was covered in butter as it slipped out of his grasp and straight into the path of Mubama, who had done well to keep his run going. Mubama stretched out to nick it, took a touch and rolled it home.
Vitek looked like he wanted to catch a bus straight home and he was soon picking the ball out of his net again as two became three.
Manhoef played a one-two with Mubama to cut inside and dummy a shot as he motored across the edge of the area, finally picking his moment to pick his spot in the far corner.
As impressive as Stoke were going forward, there were some lung-busting efforts to keep out a Bristol City side that was threatening going forwards. Viktor Johansson was ready to dive at feet and Baker made a couple of bursting runs to make important blocks.
Stoke were claiming a penalty at the start of the second half when Baker tap danced through the area and had a shove in his back from Rob Atkinson after he had got past Vitek and was about to tap into the net. Referee James Bell wasn’t interested.
But no one was stopping or could stop Tchamadeu in the next breath when the right-back picked up the ball on the right wing and ran diagonally into the box. He was at full speed as he touched it one side of Rob Dickie had and ran to meet it on the other before powering it past Vitek for 4-0.
Stoke fans were lapping it up, asking the visitors if they could play them every week – and the whole of the team was still throwing itself into defending. Ash Phillips, Ben Wilmot and Cresswell took clatterings as they stood up to be counted and Johansson seemed like he was in the wars every couple of minutes as he played like he was on the playground.
It was five and a hat-trick for Mubama in the 67th minute. Bae Junho pounced on a loose ball and squared for Lamine Cisse, who touched it into the box for Mubama and ran in himself expecting a return. Mubama instead had space to turn and lift shot past Vitek with his right foot.
Mubama was inches away from a fourth after excellent control of a high ball by Thomas, who then galloped into the area and spanked a cross through the six-yard box.
Bristol City did pull one back in the 82nd minute when Sykes flicked a near post header over Johansson and inside the far post at a corner.
Never mind, this is Stoke’s best start to a season at this level since 1978. You can follow all the reaction from the bet365 Stadium as it happens, here.
Here are the player ratings from the bet365 Stadium:
Johansson: Back from birth of second child in Stockholm and ready and willing to dive on anything that moved. 8
Tchamadeu: The 150th league appearance of career and the game of his life. Whatever he had for breakfast, make sure he eats it every day. Unstoppable going forward, including brilliant goal, excellent assist and stellar link play with Manhoef. 9.5
Cresswell: Who knows why he didn’t shoot when set up for left footer in first-half. A couple of nice crosses and willing defensive play. 8
Phillips: Kept a handle on Armstrong, including some well-won headers. Towering at times. 8
Wilmot: Ready to throw himself into challenges and lead by example. 8
Pearson: Kept Stoke ticking over and was in the right places to make sure Bristol City were penned in at times. 8
Baker: Tireless performance. Could have had a penalty, went close with a long ranger and chipped in with some excellent defensive work. 8
Junho: Some nice touches in the attacking third as he helped Stoke turn the screw, including winning loose ball for fifth. 8
Manhoef: An exceptional first half when he had defenders on strings. Superb goal and supreme entertainer. He was in Shaqiri mode. 9
Thomas: Unbelievably not directly involved in any of Stoke’s goals for once but ran his socks off and set up a couple of decent chances. 8
Mubama: A ruthless touch on display as he scored a well-taken hat-trick. Poacher’s instinct and even a finish with his right foot. 9.5
Substitutes
Seko (for Pearson, 57): Buzzed around midfield with typical energy. 7
Cisse (for Manhoef, 57): Set up the third for Mubama and showed skill and pace on the break. 7.5
Rigo (for Thomas, 75): Kept the ball moving around in the closing stages. 7
Not used: Bonham, Bozenik, Nzonzi, Bocat, Gibson, Talovierov.
Referee: James Bell (South Yorkshire) 2
Attendance: 23,241
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