Two teams towards the bottom of the Championship table are set to come together on Tuesday evening when Luton Town host Stoke City at Kenilworth Road for matchday 20 of the season.
The hosts are 18th in the table with 19 points from 19 games, while the visitors are in 15th with 21 points from their first 19 fixtures.
Match preview
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After suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, placing 18th with 26 points and six points adrift of safety, Luton would have been aiming to secure promotion back to the top flight this campaign.
However, the Hatters have endured a miserable start to the 2024-25 season, sitting 18th in the standings with just 19 points from their first 19 fixtures, leaving them only two points above the drop zone.
They started their season with a dismal 4-1 home defeat to Burnley, who they were relegated alongside last term, and that loss has seemingly set the tempo for their campaign thus far.
Rob Edwards's side have earned just five wins and four draws from 19 matches, losing 10, and have the second-worst defensive record in the league with 34 goals conceded, only behind Plymouth Argyle's 38.
Luton are also heading into this game without a win in their last three matches, two defeats and one draw, a streak they will aim to end here as they look to move away from the demotion zone.
Stoke have faced similar struggles in the Championship since suffering their own relegation from the Premier League in 2017-18, ensuring their return to the second tier for the first time since 2007-08.
The Potters have placed 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th and 17th in the Championship table in the six years since their relegation, and they look on course for yet another challenging campaign this term.
Stoke began the season under Steven Schumacher, but the former manager was sacked after two wins and three losses in their first five Championship matches, leaving them 13th in the table.
Narcis Pelach was hired as the new permanent manager, but the Spaniard has been unable to turn around Stoke's fortunes, winning just three of his 14 league games at the club, with six draws and five losses.
The Potters have also failed to win any of their last five fixtures heading into this one, three draws and two losses, a streak they will look to end as they aim to widen their current four-point lead over the bottom three.
Team News
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The hosts are anticipated to be without Alfie Doughty (ankle), Reuell Walters (foot), Reece Burke (hip) and Liam Walsh (hamstring) for this match, though the latter two are likely to return to action this month.
Elijah Adebayo and Amari'i Bell also went off injured in their recent 1-1 draw with Swansea, meaning Jacob Brown and Mads Andersen could start in their place.
As for the visitors, Ben Gibson, Ben Pearson, Bosun Lawal, Enda Stevens and Sam Gallagher are all expected to miss out on Tuesday's match with ongoing injury issues.
Thomas Cannon is Stoke's top scorer in the league with seven goals in 15 appearances, and the striker is likely to lead the line once again for the Potters in this one.
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Holmes, McGuinness, Andersen; Hashioka, Krauss, Nakamba, Clark, Moses; Morris, Brown
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchamadeu, Phillips, Rose, Bocat; Seko, Moran; Koumas, Manhoef, Bae; Cannon
We say: Luton Town 2-1 Stoke City
Neither side is having a strong season so far, with both struggling in recent weeks, but with Luton having the home advantage, where they have lost just one of their last eight matches, we expect a victory for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
