Stoke City play host to Coventry City on Saturday afternoon looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat to Rotherham United earlier this week.

At a time when the Potters sit in 16th position in the Championship standings, Coventry have finally moved off the bottom with successive wins.

Match preview

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Having recorded seven points against Burnley, Sheffield United and Preston North End, Alex Neil would have been confident about his Stoke side continuing that form against Rotherham on Tuesday night.

However, a sixth-minute goal from Oliver Rathbone earned the Millers a shock 1-0 win at the bet365 Stadium, subsequently nullifying Stoke's growing momentum in the process.

As it stands, Stoke are still just five points adrift of the top six, but the Potters will feel like they have missed an opportunity to move themselves back into contention.

For Neil, he has now lost three of his opening nine matches as Stoke boss, as many as he recorded throughout his 24-game reign at Sunderland before his decision to switch clubs in August.

Stoke have also won just once in four home fixtures since the Scot's arrival, something which naturally needs to change if they are to become dark horses for promotion.

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Given the issues which they have had with their pitch, Coventry's sole objective for two-and-a-half months has been to move outside of the relegation zone.

The Sky Blues have had to play catch-up due to the number of postponements, but there are now signs that Mark Robins's side are ready to make quick progress up the table.

Having failed to win any of their opening seven games, Coventry have now recorded 10 points from a possible 15, a run which has included three victories and just one goal conceded.

Each of those wins have been by 1-0 scorelines, the latest coming at home to former leaders Sheffield United earlier this week, and Coventry are now three points adrift of safety with three matches still in hand.

Although goals remain an issue, Coventry are one of the form teams in the division, the opportunity now there to move within three points of their 16th-placed opponents.

Team News

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Neil is unlikely to overly tinker with his Stoke XI given the manner of their defeat on Tuesday.

Jordan Thompson may freshen up the midfield, while Nick Powell and Jacob Brown could come into consideration after making their returns from injury as substitutes in midweek.

Dwight Gayle, Tyrese Campbell and Liam Delap are all at risk of dropping out of the side.

Robins will make at least one alteration to his Coventry side with Ben Sheaf serving a one-match ban for five yellow cards.

Gustavo Hamer will almost certainly return in the centre of the pitch, while Martyn Waghorn is in line to get the nod over Matt Godden after his late penalty versus Sheffield United.

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Jagielka, Wilmot, Fox; Sterling, Laurent, Baker, Fosu-Henry; Powell; Campbell, Delap

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Rose, McFadzean, Panzo; Dabo, Hamer, Eccles, Allen, Bidwell; Waghorn, Gyokeres

We say: Stoke City 2-1 Coventry City

With both teams having put together successive wins of late, there should be a similar level of belief within both camps. For us, however, Stoke are more likely to respond to their disappointment in midweek, edging this contest courtesy of a strong first-half showing.

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