[PA Media]Mark Elliott - BBC Radio Stoke's Stoke City commentatorSun, November 30, 2025 at 12:02 PM UTC·1 min readAt half-time, it looked like Stoke were cruising to a second successive win. By full-time they were coming to terms with a third defeat in four games.
Such are the highs and lows of this rollercoaster Championship season in which nobody bar Coventry can seem to put a decisive run of wins together.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMark Robins was as emotional as we've seen him post-match. He said his team deserved to lose and wants more from them in the big moments that often decide the sort of tight games Stoke have lost in recent weeks.
Emotions were heightened by the irresponsibility of some Hull players, led by John Lundstram who decided to goad the home fans in the Boothen End rather than enjoying the win with their own fans at the other end at full-time.
That sparked several minutes of pushing and shoving on the pitch and the odd projectile from a minority in the stands in unedifying scenes that didn't need to happen.
The palpable post-match frustration of those in red and white is fuelled by the fact that Stoke stand on the brink of an amazing 2026 that looks there for the taking if only they can solve two key problems.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCan they be more efficient in front of goal and can they stop conceding goals from moves beginning with their own possession midway inside their own half?
They played really well in the first half against Hull and they're clearly a good side. But their chances of promotion will be determined by their ability to become more efficient in those areas.
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