Stoke City boss Mark Robins makes a ‘dark arts’ comment about Portsmouth after his side’s 3-1 defeat on Wednesday night.
While he was was critical of both his own team, he did hit out at Portsmouth, saying the Potters were “bullied” by the hosts who rolled out “all the dark arts”.
He suggested that Portsmouth engaged in tactics like throwing themselves to the floor, fouling, and kicking, which he characterised as “old school football.”
Portsmouth comfortably picked up three points thanks to goals from Colby Bishop, Callum Lang, and Connor Ogilvie, while Ben Wilmot got one for Stoke.
Stoke boss Mark Robins just saying to media he felt Portsmouthās penalty was soft and accused Pompey of using the ādark artsā through the game
Did give credit though and said they ran harder and were āmiles betterā said Stoke didnāt look like scoring after their goal #Pompey
ā Dan George (@DanGeorgee) January 22, 2025
Stoke boss Mark Robins: š£ļø
āLetās have it right, theyāve thrown themselves to the floor, theyāve fouled us, kicked us.
āItās all the dark arts, theyāve got experienced players, itās old school footballā #Pompey #SCFC
ā Dan George (@DanGeorgee) January 22, 2025
“Move on quickly. No time to dwell.”
Reaction from the gaffer š pic.twitter.com/IchvaKqbqt
ā Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 22, 2025
Stoke’s Mark Robins: “I’m really disappointed. Portsmouth set the tone from the start and we didn’t live with that. We allowed them to bully us all night.
“They set their stall out by throwing themselves to the floor, fouling us and kicking us, all the dark arts. They have old-manned us tonight.
“They have players with experience who have come up on the other side of the game.
“It was old school type of football but we have to be able deal with it and not just think that teams will allow you to come and play.
“They ran harder, that is how they put us under pressure. That’s what they are and how they’ve been built.
“We can show our players all that beforehand and if it still surprised you then you aren’t going to get anything from the game.
“Where they were miles better was in the physical department. I suppose some of our young players have never come up against that in their lives and it can be a big shock.
“Ultimately you have to be able to deal with it and be able to fight back and earn the right to play football.”
Portsmouth’s John Mousinho: “It feels great. We knew how important it was pre-game and just about everything about the game was great.
“We knew we could get up the league and above Stoke, so we knew the result was important tonight but the performance in the second half was one of our best displays of the season.
“We didn’t play scintillating football but were ruthless, clinical and came out on top in pretty much every area.
“We have to make sure we build upon these wins. They are our first back-to-back wins this year.
“I think we are progressing but the next stage is that while we are looking up, we don’t think we have cracked it and the job is done.
“We will judge ourselves at the back end of the season if we are a good side. For now, we have a lot of work to do.”
This is how fans reacted as Stoke boss Mark Robins makes a ‘dark arts’ comment about Portsmouth after his side’s 3-1 defeat…
@JoeWood_7: I have no idea what game he watched tonight because it wasn’t the one that happened at Fratton Park
@Roydini25: @stokecity What a ridiculous assessment of the match. Clear penalty when you shove somebody aggressively. Stoke were thought and outplayed apart from a 10 minute spell. They were second-best all over the pitch and he should have the humility to accept responsibility.
@DaveStubbs14: Mark Robins should be telling these players that if they want to stay in this league they should work as hard as these Portsmouth players. Might be worth working on defending direct balls too.
@DavidAAHowes: Iām a huge fan of Mark Robins, but what game was he watching this evening. If he canāt save Stoke then no one can. Serious contenders for that bottom 3 after tonight. Would have been much more had Johansson not been in their net too. Nothing without Cannon on the attack.
@MikePompey: So like the Premier League style Stoke from the olden days? O the irony. Should have had a few more Marlon Pack long throws as well.
@Pompeytucks: Well that makes a change for us to be doing that. Although it’s over exaggerated! We’ve been mugged by loads of teams these season. So we’ll done Mousinho and the Blues!
@mestlea66: I would love it if every opposition Manager had the same complaint this season. The attitude of our players was superb and for all the chasing, tackling and closing down, we have the skill and ability to win games.
@StevePFC1: We stepped up and your lot bottles it and couldnāt compete, simple as that!
@CharlieBarnicle: And let’s also have it right Mark, it’s brilliant and you were bullied by it
@RO8s: We played them off the park – what “dark arts”? Tosser!
@samstonegolf: Thought Mark Robins was better than this. His side were second best all over tonight. He will have to work a minor miracle to turn that mess around. Should take a look at his players first.
@PompeyScoutpfc: Dark Art, looked more like bad defending to me. Found it interesting that stoke also had two up top for all our corners, so much space to attack! Is that normal for stoke?
@apwilliamshants: Dry your eyes princess
@AlexNewel1: Never been so proud. Up the blues! š
@ChrisRe43862970: The irony
Comfortable stuff. Off you fuck. pic.twitter.com/lDI0bZPuil
ā AR (@ReadA89) January 22, 2025
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