Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. 'No Pompey dark arts - they just wanted it more'published at 17:08

    BBC Sport's 'Your views' image
    Stoke boss Mark Robins during the 3-1 defeat at PortsmouthImage source, Rex Features

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins was critical of his team for allowing Portsmouth to "bully" them in their 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park on Wednesday, but also accused Pompey of using the "dark arts".

    We asked you for your views on Robins' post-match comments and here is a selection of your responses:

    Peter: Rubbish, I was at the game. It was a good physical game of football from both sides. No dark arts, just one team wanting it much more than the other.

    Ronan: He's not wrong and it has been a weak point of Stoke's game all season, but it was a total failure by the referee to control the game in my opinion.

    The standard of refereeing in this season's Championship has been diabolical - I dread to count the number of points we have lost to objectively incorrect refereeing decisions.

    I confess I watch the Prem with envy every time the referee runs over to that monitor…

    Darren: Robins need to worry about his own team being pretty poor, and how he is going to stop their slide down the table, rather than making excuses for the defeat. Pompey had 9 fouls against them, Stoke 12... Hmmm.

    Adrian: Sounds like sour grapes to me. I never saw anything other than a normal game of modern football from both sides.

    Expect better from Robins. Maybe the pressure of the position he finds himself in now is dawning on him.

    Portsmouth players celebrate the second goal in the 3-1 over Stoke at Fratton ParkImage source, Rex Features

    Martin: There's nothing dark arts or bullying about it. It's full blooded commitment and hard work. Sour grapes. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

    Julian: Robins has got it so wrong. Pompey just ran and won most 50-50s. Stoke were outfought rather than outplayed!

    Nick: Robins' comments are pretty laughable really. Pompey "comprehensively outplayed a poor Stoke side for the vast majority of the game".

    I'm a Pompey fan, but the quote is from a couple of disappointed Stoke fans I met in the pub after!

  2. Do you agree with Robins' 'dark arts' comments?published at 11:07

    BBC Sport's 'Have your say' football image
    Stoke City boss Mark Robins during the 3-1 defeat at PortsmouthImage source, Rex Features

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins was very critical of both his own team and Portsmouth after their 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park on Wednesday night.

    The 55-year-old said the Potters were "bullied" by a Pompey side who rolled out "all the dark arts" on their way to victory.

    "I'm really disappointed, they set the tone right from the start and we didn't live with that," Robins said.

    "We allowed them to bully us all night. I also didn't think for one second the referee was going to give a penalty [for the first goal] and then he did. It is what it is.

    "Let's have it right, they've thrown themselves to the floor, they've fouled us, kicked us, and we've had nothing.

    "It's all the dark arts, they've got experienced players in the other side of the game and it's old school football."

    Robins' comments throw up a number of questions and we want to know what you think of his claims:

    Were Stoke bullied by Portsmouth?

    Did the decisions go against the Potters?

    Do you agree with Robins that Pompey deployed the 'dark arts'?

    Let us know your thoughts here.

  3. We allowed them to bully us - Robinspublished at 23:08 22 January

    Mark RobinsImage source, Rex Features

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins spoke to BBC Sport after their 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

    "I'm really disappointed, they set the tone right from the start and we didn't live with that.

    "We allowed them to bully us all night, I also didn't think for one second the referee was going to give a penalty and then he did, it is what it is.

    "Let's have it right they've thrown themselves to the floor, they've fouled us, kicked us and we've had nothing.

    "It's all the dark arts, they've got experienced players in the other side of the game and it's old school football."