Mark Robins hails quality of Stoke goals in comeback win against Sheffield United

Mark Robins saluted his battling Stoke side after they staged a fine comeback to stun Sheffield United 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium.

Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips’ first league goal for five-and-a-half years put the Blades on course for a welcome away win.

But the battling Potters had other ideas and goals from Jack McGlynn and substitute Sam Gallagher – in the space of 11 breathtaking second-half minutes – turned the contest on its head and stretched the home team’s impressive unbeaten run to five matches.

“If those goals don’t deserve to win a football match, then I don’t know what level of quality does,” Robins said.

“That’s testament to Sam Gallagher. For him to have worked to keep coming back from injury and disappointment, well that is just a demonstration of sheer brute force and quality that gets you a winning goal in what was a really tight game.

“The first goal was good enough, that’s Jack all over. But Sam’s goal, well that’s one of the best goals I’ve ever seen.

“We worked really hard to get back on level terms after conceding what we felt was a real giveaway (goal).

“But the support and energy in the stadium was really good – and it needed to be because after the run of fixtures we’ve had, it’s been tough for everyone.

“There’s been so many games in this period, it’s been really tough, so the players deserve an awful lot of credit.

“The start we had wasn’t brilliant, but they picked up the mantle, got some confidence going and we’ve shown we’ve got some genuine quality.

“It’s exciting (our form), that’s the emotion I feel. I’m a lot happier with where we’re at after the start we had.”

Former England international Phillips fired the visitors into a 51st-minute lead, remarkably his first league goal since May 2021.

But United States international midfielder McGlynn levelled in the 78th minute with his second goal in as many games.

Gallagher then won it for the hosts with a sublime 87th-minute right-foot volley.

Frustrated Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was left impressed with the way his side wasted their advantage.

“It was a tough one to take for us all,” moaned Wilder. “Unfortunately fine margins decide games, but I can’t fault the players because they put everything out there.

“We got our noses in front but they find two wonder goals which decided the game for them.

“When two players whack in goals from 30 yards then it’s nothing to do with our quality.

“It was a tight game, but we could have quite easily been sat here with six points from the last two games, but two wonder goals have decided it.

“To concede two goals like that one in game, well I don’t think you’ll concede two goals like that again all season.

“We have to deal with the disappointment, but the Championship is difficult, there’s no getting around that.

“But it quickly changes and now we’ve got the international break to get some players back and to improve on things.

“The players are super tight and I’m super tight with them. They’re really disappointed we’ve not got a result, but you’ve got to get through tough times like this. That’s what professional football is all about.”