Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the club must see this season as progress despite a difficult second half. The Potters are 11 points above the relegation zone heading into the final two games. Robins, who is in his first full season in charge, said it was important the club 'take stock, move forward and improve' next season. He added lessons will be learned from their transfer business after several players were brought in from across Europe and took time to find their feet. 'I said in January, bring players in and they've got to get up to speed, they've got to know what they're coming up against on a weekly basis, whether that's a three-game week, different opponents, different tactics, different strengths, weaknesses,' Robins said. 'Until you get to grips with that and make the best of your ability where you can compete properly and show off your attributes, then it can be a difficult and lonely place for individuals.' Robins said achieving a good finish to the season, and being well clear of the bottom three, has to be seen as a positive. 'If incremental improvement is not being involved anywhere near the situation we were in last year, then that's incremental improvement,' he added. 'We all want more than that. We started off really brightly, that changes people's perception, but also the expectation levels go up a notch.'