Stoke City ran out 2-1 winners at Southampton to make it three out of three to start the season
18:07, 23 Aug 2025Updated 18:18, 23 Aug 2025
Mark Robins is in his first full season as Stoke City manager.
Mark Robins is in his first full season as Stoke City manager.(Image: Will Cooper/Shutterstock)
Mark Robins hailed an outstanding performance as Stoke City won at Southampton to make it nine points out of nine to start the season – even after playing for more than half an hour with 10 men.
Robins thought Stoke were good value for their lead when they made a breakthrough in the 54th minute through Lewis Baker. Five minutes later, their job was made more difficult when Divin Mubama was accused of diving and shown a second yellow card.
But Sorba Thomas doubled the lead with a well-taken goal on a counter-attack and, although Taylor Harwood-Bellis pulled a goal back, Stoke saw the game through to send their 1,900-odd travelling supporters into party mood.
"I thought it was a brilliant game,” said Robins. “I thought we were really good. With 11 players I thought we were really good and looked a real threat. The transitions we spoke about were going to be important today and how we managed the game and how we managed when we gave the ball away and had to win it back. They've got good players. I said before the game that the depth of their squad is a joke for the Championship.
"I thought we were good value for the one-goal lead. They hit the post but it was a transition and one of those things when they won the ball back and had a flurry, hit the post a couple of times. But we went down the other end and almost scored ourselves.
"I thought we passed the ball pretty well and caused them problems and certainly when we attacked at pace.”
Mubama had been booked in the first half for a mistimed challenge and he will now be suspended for a Carabao Cup tie against Bradford. Robins was going to talk to the striker about the incident which led to his dismissal.
The manager said: "We shoot ourselves in the foot a little bit. I think Divin has gone around him. He definitely gets touched, his ankles definitely get touched. Does he need to go down? The referee deemed not, so he gets sent off, which means he misses mid-week. I think he's gone around him and he can side-foot it into an empty net. It begs the question why. I haven't spoken to him (Divin) about that yet but I will.
"His first touch is a good touch and it looks like he's taken it past the goalkeeper. It might not have done but from where I was stood it looked like it. He can waltz around him and stick it in an empty net. But he's worked hard, he's done everything right, he's won things in the air against three centre-backs. He's put himself about, he's dropped in occasionally and got hold of the ball, brought others into play and then we had runs forward.”
There were 31 minutes plus seven minutes of added time when Mubama went off.
Robins said: "I thought everybody to a man worked their socks off. Milly (Manhoef) probably had one of his best games for us. Even though he's not got on the scoresheet he was instrumental in getting us up the pitch and close to their goal. It was a fantastic performance and, again, Sorba...
"But behind it, everyone behind it. Look at Seko and Bakes, who has ended up getting a goal again with a brilliant finish. He's mopped up and finished it.
"We end up having to defend against a team that loves to pass the ball and switch the play. Balls came into the box more regularly but we dealt with most of those and we have to rely on the goalkeeper to make an unbelievable save from a header. Great save. That keeps you going.
"Then it was the breakaway, Sorba gets into a good position, wants to come inside but is shown the outside, took it and finished brilliantly.
"At 2-0 up you still know it's not home and dry because of the man down but I think for us it's a really good result. At the best of times it's a really good result. This was an outstanding result. They've beaten a really good team in their own back yard so I'm delighted."
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