Mark Robins reacts to anger from Stoke fans, confronted by Sorba Thomas after defeat to Derby on Monday afternoon.
The sell-out travelling support made their feelings known during the second half as they watched their side fail to get a single shot on target.
According to Stoke Sentinel, Thomas ‘took exception to something that was said when he and teammates went to applaud their fans’
He ended up being dragged away by Aaron Cresswell, Mark Robins spoke to him, as did Steven Nzonzi when going down the tunnel.
Raw and unedited pic.twitter.com/c9nAZp4uGB
— James O’Hara (@jamesjohara) April 6, 2026
Last home game Birmingham fans gave their own team abuse at the final whistle but now Stoke fans have taken it to the next level 😂😂😂 #dcfcfans #dcfc #scfc #scfcfans pic.twitter.com/U4Pe9FMeGY
— Gav (@Gav1981) April 6, 2026
sorba Thomas arguing with his own fans as stoke lose 2 nil at derby today. had to be escorted away by members of stokes backroom staff.#stoke #Thomas #scfc #stokecity #derby pic.twitter.com/Iqx0ldOvWa
— away day lads (@awaydayladsfs) April 6, 2026
Stoke’s Mark Robins on the post match confrontation:
“I think it was one of those situations when the players have been over to see them, I’ve been talking and I went over afterwards knowing that they are not going to be throwing flowers at us.
“If you get criticised and you don’t like it, suck it up, get on with it and make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s as simple as that.
“It’s never nice but if you don’t like it, don’t let it happen again. You can work, you can run, you can justify playing for these supporters and you must know what it is by now to play for them and work for them. That’s something that can’t be lost on anybody and can’t creep into the performances we have left.
“Certainly today has to be a stark reminder down the coming years that this was a performance that was unacceptable. I’m talking about playing against a good side – but this was a performance that you can’t repeat.”
Robins added, regarding fans’ frustrations with sideway passing: “I think that the supporters are absolutely right. It’s totally, totally baffling that we go from a performance that was reasonable, home performance to then away from home you just think you’ve got to turn up against a team that is actually going for the play-offs whereas we were just pretending.
“We’ve got to make sure moving forward that changes. The supporters were absolutely bang right because they pay their money to come and watch and a lot of people are unhappy. It’s an emotional game. People are unhappy if you don’t put in a performance that justifies being part of the football club. That was one of those times.
“Nobody likes to be criticised and when you’re criticised these days it seems to have a real negative impact on ego and responses. Suck it up, take it on the chin, understand why they’re doing it, make sure it doesn’t happen ever again because you’re never going to be in that position again – you’re going to fight, you’re going to jump into tackles, you’re going to win those duels, you’re going to win the headers. Even if you get beat you can get beat in a way that you go down fighting.
“That just wasn’t one of those performances. It was a performance that tells me that one or two aren’t bothered about being here.”
He said to BBC Radio Stoke:
“How did I see the game? It was a nothing first half, but they had better chances than us.
“On Good Friday it was a really good win. Then coming into this one as we come to the end of the season, I’m looking for more.
“And really, I’m left disappointed because we’ve certainly not done enough with the ball, but we have looked passive, which isn’t us – it shouldn’t be us and can’t be us. And we left ourselves open to that defeat, and that is a concern.
“After a game where we’ve had to work hard, even against a Sheffield Wednesday side that has been struggling, we win the game and we have to bounce onto the next one, and we don’t or can’t do that.
“It is really difficult to win any game of football in any division, and the Championship is brutal, but you certainly have to match the opposition in terms of fight, and we haven’t got that.
“We just haven’t got that at this stage and the players who have got that just looked like they weren’t at the level of Derby’s players.”
Derby’s John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:
“I thought it was an excellent performance today. The boys were top drawer from start to finish.
“Obviously after Friday night and the effort they put in against the best team in the league [Coventry City] was outstanding, and to come away with nothing was really disappointing.
“We could easily have turned up today feeling a little sorry for ourselves, but the way the lads really stepped on and were on the front foot, the football we played today was outstanding.”
On Patrick Agyemang’s injury: “Pat’s gone off and gone for a scan, so we will have to wait and see.
“We don’t want to see any player going off on a stretcher, and we don’t want to lose our best players, so let’s see how long it will be.”
Eustace, per Sky Sports:
“We thoroughly deserved the win. From the first minute we were on the front foot, the football we played today was superb, the second goal was a top goal.
“Numerous chances in the first period we didn’t put away.
“We played against a really good team in Stoke and if you’re not at it, they will hurt you – they’ve got some fantastic players.
Twitter users gave their reaction as Mark Robins reacts to anger from Stoke fans, confronted by Sorba Thomas after defeat to Derby…
@MilesParrish9: Dumbos taking it out on our best player like they did a few years ago
@rd4venport: Absolutely embarrassing going at Sorba Thomas, arguably the best player to wear a Stoke shirt since we’ve been relegated from the prem. I understand the booing for the team but singling anyone out is grim viewing
@AndyMaxVolume: The ones clapping are the only fans in the wrong. I’m actually on this briefly screaming something or other at the front
@RyanT25_: Was on praise and grumble at 5 and I had to say that Sorba doesn’t deserve that abuse but it seems like he was defending the others when tbh he shouldn’t of been. Why are crap and that’s the end, lads are on the beach already and robins very much underestimated this role…
@r7simmss: i think them fans that had a go at sorba thomas are ridiculous, hes the best player weve had since coming down, and fans think its acceptable to moan at him. it wouldnt surprise me if he plays with no passion anymore and leaves in the summer. Sort it out stoke
@jf_dcfc: Can only feel for the Stoke fans, came for their big day out, didn’t make any noise, got absolutely dicked, booed their players (for some reason), and have to travel back to that shithole. Unlucky boys cheers for the +3. #dcfc #scfc
@stokie_stace: Players arguing with the fans, oh we’ve gone full circle. It’s brilliant being a Stoke fan. I’ll go Saturday to thank MON, but after that point I couldn’t care less what happens. Another summer rebuild and see you all in August
@TFurber14: Giving abuse to Thomas is sensational headloss from Stoke fans, wow
You must be logged in to post a comment Login