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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland139222391429
2Leeds UnitedLeeds137512281426
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd138321661025
4Burnley136521761123
5Watford137152221122
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom13562148621
7Millwall135441612419
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn135441614219
9Bristol City134721717019
10Norwich CityNorwich134632318518
11Middlesbrough135351415-118
12Swansea CitySwansea13445109116
13Coventry CityCoventry134361717015
14Derby CountyDerby134361617-115
15Hull City133641517-215
16Stoke CityStoke134361518-315
17Cardiff CityCardiff134361319-615
18Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds134361524-915
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd133551617-114
20Preston North EndPreston133551420-614
21Luton TownLuton133371521-612
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth133371325-1212
23Queens Park RangersQPR131751119-810
24Portsmouth131661326-139


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