Robinho's hat trick does not make Stoke a bad team (From Northwich Guardian)

Manchester City 3 Stoke City 0: reaction

10:47am Monday 27th October 2008

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TEN weeks ago Stoke played an away game, let in three goals and were well beaten. Yesterday the same thing happened but there was greater reason for optimism.

Unlike the Bolton match, we failed to score. But we had some cracking opportunities, forced Joe Hart to make some fine saves and looked a dangerous outfit going forward.

We could have gone in at half time at 1-1 had Ricardo hit the target when through on goal.

None of which is much consolation when the scoreline reads Manchester City 3 Stoke City 0.

In the end we could not deal with the pace and skill of a rampant Blues side which not so long ago put six goals past Portsmouth at the same venue.

They are not the strongest team in the league defensively but their hat trick hero on the day cost over £30 million. That’s about six times what Stoke paid for Kitson.

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that we were beaten by a better team and Sunday was one of those days.

Ian Probert

Whereas Bolton’s second and third goals back on the first day of the season were embarrassingly soft, Manchester City at least had to work to get past our backline.

True Robinho had too much space for their first goal, but the honest truth is we were outclassed.

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say that we were beaten by a better team and Sunday was one of those days.

It won’t be the last time that happens this season, but it does not mean that our fans should turn into Private Fraser from the old sitcom Dad’s Army.

We are not dooooooomed yet.