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BBC Radio Stoke commentator Mark Elliott believes Stoke City are struggling for confidence after five defeats from six games left them outside the Championship’s top six for the first time this season, with the team appearing to lack the belief required to take risks in possession against Ipswich Town.
Stoke City Drop Out of Championship Top Six as Confidence Crisis Deepens
Stoke fell to another defeat against Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening, with Jaden Philogene’s second-minute curling shot from the edge of the box proving decisive in a 1-0 loss. The perfectly placed effort arced into the top corner of the goal and represented the only moment of real quality from Ipswich, but it was enough to secure victory as Stoke failed to make the most of their possession and decent attacking positions.
Elliott observed that Stoke looked like a team lacking the belief required to play forward more instinctively in the final third, despite being defensively solid throughout the match. The BBC commentator noted that while Stoke created decent positions, they could not convert their possession into meaningful chances against an Ipswich side that produced little attacking threat beyond Philogene’s early strike.
The poor run of form has shaken confidence throughout the club, with Elliott identifying a need for Stoke to be more precise and direct in the final third. He suggested the team must be more willing to take on shots or crosses, while also improving their movement and decision-making in congested areas with different types of passes and stronger forward runs to support the central striker.
Despite the recent struggles, Elliott believes Stoke’s upcoming fixtures offer an opportunity to move beyond their poor results, with three home games plus a trip to Watford providing a chance to finish 2025 with a flourish. He noted that Stoke remain competitive in every game, with Sheffield United away being the only exception to their recent performances.
Manager Mark Robins continues to emphasize that a special season remains within reach for the Potters, but Elliott suggested the next three weeks could prove pivotal in determining whether this group possesses the quality required for success. Seven points or more from their remaining fixtures would keep Stoke in contention for a play-off place, though Elliott acknowledged that while everyone connected to the club wants success, the coming period will test whether the squad is good enough to achieve their ambitions.
