‘On me’: Portsmouth turn up heat on under-pressure Stoke City boss
It got ugly at the bet365 Stadium with Mark Robins and his Stoke City players under fire in their defeat to Pompey.
Mark Robins is adamant he can turn around his side’s fortunes as Pompey ramped up the heat on the Stoke City boss.
Robins admitted he was ‘fuming’ with his side as it turned ugly at the bet365 Stadium, with the Blues cruising to a comfortable 3-1 success.
Stoke City boss: ‘The results are on me’
There were boos and jeers from the home crowd throughout, with the loss their fourth in five games and their season falling off a cliff over the second half of the campaign.
Robins spoke honestly of his club’s situation and what’s required to reverse their fortunes.
When asked if he can turn things around at the club, Robins told Stoke-on-Trent Live: ‘One hundred per cent.
‘I'm up for that discussion as well because the results are on me.
‘It is very, very difficult to accept performances like that. It's really difficult for anybody, me included. I can't tell you how angry I am. I can't tell you that. I'm fuming.
‘There is so much that we need to do, so much that needs doing to change this around.
‘You can't have the tail wagging the dog, you can't have people doing what they think is the right thing and not follow the group. You have to make sure the culture is right.
‘This is an unbelievably good club that can be let down by individuals and collective and I'm the leader of that. I have to make sure, and will ensure, that doesn't happen again.
‘Whatever we do, we have to make sure the people who come into the building are ready to fight and scrap and if they're not then they have to leave. It's as simple as that.’
There were uncomfortable scenes after the game as Stoke players did a lap of the pitch, with the stands virtually empty after the home crowd made their feelings known to the players.
Robins: ‘Totally wrong and totally unacceptable’
Robins confessed it was one of the most embarrassing moments of his career.
He added: ‘You only deserve it (a lap of honour) when you do something that is palpable, that is worthy of people standing to applaud. There is no celebrating staying in the division.
‘For this club that is totally wrong and totally unacceptable. That's the change that has to happen.
‘We've got to get people who are willing to fight and run and be able to to do it every single week through rain, snow, shine.
‘We've had a really warm day today and it looked like some said, “It's a bit too tough, this.” You can't have it. The mentality is totally wrong.’