Stoke City and Leicester City, both eager for their inaugural Championship win this February, are set to face off in a Midlands derby at the bet365 Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Last weekend, the Potters saw their FA Cup journey end at the hands of Premier League Fulham in Staffordshire, while the Foxes suffered a similar fate, losing to second-tier Southampton in the same competition.
Match preview
After a season opener that hinted at a potential return to the Premier League – a feat not achieved since 2018 – Stoke City’s playoff aspirations have dwindled, with the team managing only two Championship victories since early January.
Indeed, the Potters’ struggle extended to a dismal seven-game winless streak across all competitions (3 draws, 4 losses) last weekend, as Bae Jun-Ho’s well-executed goal proved insufficient to stop Fulham from advancing to the FA Cup fifth round.
Having garnered a meager three points from their last six Championship encounters, Saturday’s hosts now find themselves in a disappointing 14th position in the Championship standings, five points adrift of sixth-placed Derby County.
With no wins in their last four home games (1 draw, 3 losses) at the bet365 Stadium, Mark Robins’s squad must recall December 13 for their most recent Championship victory on home turf, a match where Ben Pearson’s spectacular goal secured a win against Swansea City.
Stoke faces a tough challenge, needing to overcome both their current struggles and historical records to secure a favorable outcome this Saturday afternoon. The Potters are currently on a five-game losing streak against Leicester and haven’t triumphed in any of their last 11 clashes with their Midlands rivals.
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© Imago / IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Following Marti Cifuentes’ unsuccessful tenure and a recent six-point penalty for financial rule breaches, former Premier League champions Leicester City have enlisted a seasoned Championship survival expert to prevent their descent into the third tier.
Gary Rowett, who successfully kept Oxford United in the division last season, has been named the Foxes’ manager until the season’s end. The Championship specialist takes charge amidst a challenging scenario at the King Power Stadium as this weekend approaches.
The East Midlands side has managed to secure only a solitary point from their last six Championship fixtures, placing them two points adrift of West Bromwich Albion, who currently occupy the relatively safe 21st spot in the second-tier standings.
Across all competitions, the former English champions are enduring a five-game losing streak. Southampton has been a particular nemesis for Leicester lately, defeating the Foxes twice last week in both league and cup encounters.
Aiming to stretch their unbeaten streak against Stoke to 12 games this Saturday afternoon, Leicester’s hopes largely rest on the offensive prowess of Abdul Fatawu, who has impressively scored three goals in his last four Championship outings.
Stoke City’s Championship form: D L D L D L
Stoke City’s overall form (all competitions): L D L D L L
Leicester City’s Championship form: L D L L L L
Leicester City’s overall form (all competitions): D L L L L L
Team News
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© Imago
Stoke’s goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson, a standout performer in the Championship for much of the last ten years, is currently out of action due to a shoulder injury.
With Gavin Bazunu (hip) unavailable, young Tommy Simkin will continue in goal. Junior Tchamadeu’s knee problems also limit the Potters’ defensive choices.
Stoke also faces offensive challenges, as neither Sam Gallagher (hamstring) nor Robert Bozenik (shoulder) has played so far in February.
Jordan James, who has impressively scored nine goals this season for relegation-threatened Leicester, will be a significant loss for the visiting side due to a hamstring injury.
In their battle for survival, the Foxes have brought in several promising young talents, such as defender Olabade Aluko and attacking midfielder Divine Mukasa, who is on loan from Manchester City.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Simkin; Lawal, Phillips, Wilmot, Cresswell; Seko, Nzonzi, Rak-Sakyi, Rigo, Thomas; Cisse
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Stolarczyk; Pereira, Okoli, Nelson, Thomas; Skipp, Winks, Fatawu, Mukasa, Mavididi; Daka
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We say: Stoke City 1-1 Leicester City
Having not secured a victory against Leicester since January 2015, Stoke will undoubtedly feel this weekend presents a chance to finally claim a long-anticipated triumph over their visitors.
Under Rowett’s guidance, Leicester is anticipated to display renewed vigor and resilience. A hard-earned point in The Potteries on Saturday afternoon would likely be a satisfactory outcome for their new manager.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.