🔎 MansionBet Match Preview: Stoke City (H)

🔴 OURSELVES

The Robins are back in BS3 for their second consecutive game at home after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers.

Assistant Manager Curtis Fleming says City are seeking more consistency, telling Robins TV: “It was a positive performance but we have to work on our consistency. Every game in the Championship you have to turn up, work hard and concentrate. The effort is there but we have to get a consistency of play and concentration in both boxes.”

City welcomed back Nathan Baker, Antoine Semenyo and Joe Williams against Rovers and the trio are in the selection mix ahead of the visit of the Potters. 

🧳  OUR OPPONENTS

Form sees Michael O’Neill’s men mounting a potential play-off challenge, sitting fourth - level on points with Coventry City - after the last round of Championship fixtures.

The Potters have hit the ground running and almost went the entire opening month of the campaign unbeaten until a 3-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

In fact, O’Neill’s side had only lost twice by mid-September before enduring a sticky patch in the second half of October.

A 2-0 win at Peterborough on Saturday sees them now four games unbeaten having won their last three games heading to Ashton Gate, in their bid to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2018.

However, they are now without the suspended Sam Surridge, who was sent off in the latter stages against The Posh. Centre-back Harry Souttar (knee) is also out for the remainder of the campaign. The 23-year-old defender was one of the Potters’ key players this season, with an Opta rating of 7.21 from 16 appearances. He was stretchered off whilst on international duty with Australia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

“It's a huge blow for such a young man but he will get all the support he needs from everyone at the club,” said O’Neill.

O'Neill - who led Northern Ireland to the knockout stages at Euro 2016 and was subsequently awarded an MBE for services to football and the community – marked his two-year anniversary in charge of the Staffordshire club earlier this month. He is now working alongside former City Head Coach Dean Holden who has been his assistant since April.

📝 STOKE CITY PROFILE

Formed: 1863
Stadium: Bet365 Stadium
Nickname: The Potters
Manager: Michael O'Neill
Finish last season: 14th, Sky Bet Championship

Honours:

• League Cup winners 1971/2
• Football League Trophy winners 1991/92, 1999/2000
• Football Members Cup winners 1987
• Full Members Cup winners 1987
• Second tier winners 1932/33, 1962/63
• Third tier winners 11926/27, 1992/93

📍 MATCH DETAILS 

Where: Ashton Gate Stadium
When: Wednesday, November 24th (7.45pm)
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Referee: Oliver Langford 
Assistant Referee: Steven Meredith 
Assistant Referee: George Byrne 
Fourth Official: Tim Robinson