Mark Robins believes the work done behind the scenes at Stoke City over the summer is beginning to show, with the Championship club sitting eighth in the table despite a difficult start to the campaign.

Belief building at the bet365

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, the Stoke manager was candid about the progress he can see in his squad, even after Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by Middlesbrough ended a six-game unbeaten run for the Potters.

"There is so much to like and so much to be excited about," Robins said. "It's not just me saying that, you see that and the supporters are reflecting that and that's a real positive."

He was equally measured in his reading of the Middlesbrough loss, suggesting it revealed as much about the squad's character as the unbeaten run itself. "Even in the defeat, I thought we got stronger in it and it's about belief and having that understanding we're going to be good. We're good now but we're going to be good."

A summer of rebuilding

The context behind Robins' optimism is worth noting. Stoke lost their opening three fixtures of this season and had been beaten in five of their final six matches of the previous campaign before the summer reset. A combination of recruitment and what the manager describes as a deliberate cultural overhaul appears to have steadied the ship.

"The culture around the place has improved," Robins told the BBC. "We've got a way of doing things that is acceptable, that we want to see on a daily basis and that reflects in what we do every day and you can then do that on the football pitch."

That message is clearly landing with his players. Robins spoke of habits being embedded across the squad rather than relying on individual quality or short-term form to carry results.

"There are things the players understand have got to be habits and that's what the supporters are seeing which bodes well," he said. "There are so many good signs, positive signs and we've got to keep building on that."

Eyes on Derby

Stoke will look to return to winning ways when they travel to Derby County on Saturday (15:00). Derby are currently among the clubs in the lower reaches of the second-tier table, making the fixture a significant opportunity for Robins' side to consolidate their position in the upper half.

With the promotion picture in the Championship always shifting at this stage of the season, a win at Pride Park could push Stoke closer to the top six. The six-game unbeaten run prior to Tuesday's loss had already shown the squad's capacity to sustain momentum, and Robins will be eager to see his side bounce back quickly rather than allow the Middlesbrough defeat to linger.

For supporters who watched the club struggle for consistency in recent seasons, the manager's words will carry genuine weight only if results back them up. But on current evidence, and with eighth place already secured at this point of the campaign, there is at least a tangible foundation to Robins' confidence rather than mere managerial spin.

The coming weeks should tell supporters considerably more about whether this cultural shift is a lasting one or a temporary upturn in form.

Frequently asked

Where are Stoke City in the Championship table?
Stoke City are currently eighth in the Championship table, having put together a six-game unbeaten run before Tuesday's 3-2 defeat by Middlesbrough.
Who is the Stoke City manager?
Mark Robins is the Stoke City manager. He has spoken about building an improved culture at the club since taking charge.
When is Stoke City's next Championship match?
Stoke City travel to Derby County on Saturday with a 15:00 kick-off.