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Stoke logo
Championship | Gameweek 12
Oct 21, 2023 at 3pm UK
Bet365 Stadium
Sunderland

Stoke
2 - 1
Sunderland

Mmaee (7'), McNally (47')
Johnson (21'), Burger (50'), Pearson (59'), Thompson (73'), Stevens (86')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Clarke (10')
Huggins (25'), Hume (34'), Clarke (64'), Aouchiche (90+4')

Preview: Stoke City vs. Sunderland - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Stoke City and Sunderland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Stoke City play host to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon with Alex Neil desperately requiring all three points against his former club.

The Potters occupy 21st position in the Championship standings at a time when the visitors to the bet365 Stadium are in fourth place.


Match preview

Stoke City's Josh Laurent looks dejected on September 24, 2023© Reuters

When Stoke went down 2-0 at Leicester City before the international break, many supporters would have expected Neil to be removed from his position in the dugout.

As well as seven defeats being recorded in 11 games in the second tier during 2023-24, the Scot has lost 27 of his 57 matches in charge of a team that he was expected to turn into promotion candidates.

There can be no denying that Neil has reached a point in his reign where only wins will do, with Stoke only outside of the relegation zone courtesy of the poor second-tier outfits below them.

The Potters are able to move as high as 17th spot if they can record a much-needed maximum return on Saturday, yet defeat may see them drop into the bottom three ahead of matches with Middlesbrough and Leeds United.

Neil has witnessed his team fail to score in five of their eight league matches since August 26, while they also lost 2-0 at Bournemouth in the EFL Cup during that period.

Stoke City manager Alex Neil reacts during the match on September 24, 2023© Reuters

Sunderland renew acquaintances with their former manager on the back of suffering a demoralising 4-0 defeat at home to North East rivals Middlesbrough last time out.

However, a first-half dismissal did not help matters, and Tony Mowbray will be keen to drum that into his squad after their previous impressive form.

In total, the Black Cats have recorded five wins from their last seven outings, while they have also posted three successive victories in away matches.

Mowbray's side netted three times in each of those contests, with Sunderland overcoming Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

Stoke City Championship form:


Stoke City form (all competitions):


Sunderland Championship form:


Team News

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray on October 7, 2023© Reuters

Neil took the unusual step of playing for 88 minutes against Leicester without making any substitutions, his Stoke XI having been competitive until the 79th minute.

With it unclear whether any of Stoke's mass injury absentees will return, a similar side could be named, albeit with Sead Haksabanovic and Dwight Gayle both pushing for starts in the final third.

Sunderland will be forced into at least one change with Dan Neil serving a suspension for his dismissal against Middlesbrough.

Defender Dan Ballard may also miss out with a thigh issue, but Mowbray hopes to be able to welcome back the likes of Pierre Ekwah, Alex Pritchard and Bradley Dack.

Jenson Selt is on standby to make an appearance in the middle of the backline, while Ekwah could take the spot of Neil in midfield.


Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Travers; Tchamadeu, McNally, Laurent, Thompson; Leris, Pearson, Burger, Johnson; Haksabanovic, Gayle

Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, O'Nien, Selt, Huggins; Roberts, Bellingham, Ekwah, Clarke; Ba; Burstow


SM words green background

We say: Stoke City 1-3 Sunderland

There may come a time when everything begins to click for Stoke, with or without Neil in the dugout. However, we do not feel that it will be in this encounter, as the Black Cats have the confidence to run out convincing victors against the Potters.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Stoke vs Sunderland

Stoke City
25.9%
Draw
11.1%
Sunderland
63.0%
27
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3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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