Stoke City debates revolve around pressure on the manager, potential next managers and just how much the club is in a relegation fight. It would be ignorant to think these conversations were not happening offline too after such a full-bloodied away end reaction to the decisive last second goal and full-time whistle as Stoke lost 2-1 at Plymouth on Saturday.

That was Stoke’s third defeat in a row, the third time in a row they have conceded important late goals and the 10th defeat in 19 matches to start the season. They have picked up just 21 points, are only five clear of third-bottom Queens Park Rangers, have only scored 19 times – the fifth lowest in the division – and conceded 27.

Hopes had been rising when Neil’s side went into the international break on the back of a five-game unbeaten run but that has morphed into a five-game winless run. They have rebounded off the glass ceiling that Neil had urged them to break, the important step of just establishing the squad back in the top half. So Stoke are stuck in this football washing machine, spinning up and crashing down, often soaking. In fact, Neil spoke last week about the Championship’s violent mood swings.