This season's Championship is even more tight than normal

Mark Robins must have known what he was talking about when he predicted a particularly tight and competitive Championship this season.

Five of Stoke’s six wins have been by a one-goal margin, which isn’t surprising considering that 94 out of the 132 Championship matches so far have been either drawn or settled by a single goal. That is 71 per cent, up from around 66 per cent in the previous two seasons.

The key to success then, as Tony Pulis has also pointed out today, is being clinical at both ends of the pitch as teams chase a place in the expanded play-offs.

Robins wasn’t all that tongue in cheek last week that Viktor Johansson is worth about 20 points a season. At the other end, Stoke have had 12 different scorers since changing shape on transfer deadline day.

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There have been wonder goals and set piece deflections as Stoke have found different ways of winning, which they are hoping to continue when they host Bristol City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Robins said: “Is that not the Championship? It’s about fine margins all the time – even sometimes you can lose 3-1 at Southampton and it’s not been that kind of game. You’re in the game and we were actually really good for an hour. That’s the type of game you’re talking about.

“It’s really, really difficult so you have to concentrate for the whole time. You have to be clinical and take your chances when they come along if you can. That has an impact in every game.

“We have also seen that if you go a goal down, like we did against Sheffield United, you’re still in it. You’ve got a chance of scoring and we’re doing that consistently.

“Really, for us, there’s still a hell of a long way to go and there’s a lot of work to do. We’ve got to enjoy the moment and keep building into what we can end up being."