Stoke vs Sunderland prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-10-20 14:00.
Stoke City fans will be hoping manager Alex Neil spent most of the international break at the drawing board, in the hopes he can figure out a way to turn their early season poor form around. The Potters suffered their sixth defeat in their last eight matches (W1, D1), a run that included Carabao Cup elimination, when losing 2-0 to league leaders Leicester last time out, form that has seen them slip down the Championship table to sit just one place above the relegation zone.
A return to the Bet365 Stadium is unlikely to galvanise Stoke either, as they carry with them a three-match losing streak on home soil that’s seen them score just once. The extra pressure of an agitated fanbase may therefore be unhelpful, but the Potters’ faithful certainly won’t be expecting a draw, as only two of their last 21 home matches ended level (W8, L11).
Opponents Sunderland would’ve also appreciated the extended rest between matchdays, since their last outing saw them suffer a thumping 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, their biggest ever home defeat in a Wear-Tees derby. The Black Cats were reduced to ten men in the first half before conceding all four goals after the interval, but despite that heavy defeat, they still find themselves well nested in fourth place ahead of this round.
Tony Mowbray’s men will be looking to further embed themselves in the top-six by continuing their profitable run on the road, where they’ve won their last three matches while impressively scoring three goals each time. They were victorious when travelling to the Bet365 Stadium last season too, earning a narrow 1-0 victory, and will therefore be gunning for back-to-back wins away at Stoke for the first time since March 1983!
Players to watch: André Vidigal will be a welcome returnee from injury for Stoke, having scored five goals in six appearances this season, with all those coming at home. He’s his side’s top-scorer this campaign, as is Jack Clarke for Sunderland with seven goals, but conversely, he’s scored all but one of those away from home.
Hot stat: Stoke have conceded first in nine of their 11 Championship games this season, a league-high.