Stoke vs Bristol City prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-05-03 11:30.
[p]Stoke City have the opportunity to end the Championship season with three successive victories, a run they have only achieved once previously this campaign, when Bristol City visit on Saturday. Another win could see Steven Schumacher’s side finish as high as 14th, although Stoke’s weak goal difference means that finishing in 16th is the realistic ceiling of their ambitions.[/p]
[p]It’s been a tough season for the Potters, who have flirted with the relegation zone throughout, but they finally confirmed their spot in the Championship for 2024/25 last weekend with an impressive 1-0 win at fourth-placed Southampton. Schumacher said he was “relieved more than anything” after the victory and can look back with pride on their recent form, which has seen them keep back-to-back clean sheets and suffer only one defeat in their last seven matches (W3, D3).[/p]
[p]Bristol City can better Stoke’s recent form though, having gone unbeaten in their last seven encounters (W4, D3), and they should travel to Staffordshire feeling confident after keeping five clean sheets in that run, while they conceded just a solitary goal in each of the other two games. There will also be plenty of belief in the away end, as Robins fans have returned home from the bet365 Stadium with three points on each of their last five visits![/p]
[p]Head coach Liam Manning has certainly had a positive effect since taking over in November – taking the team from 15th to 11th – and if his side can record another victory, they could finish as high as ninth, which would be the club’s highest end-of-season placing since 2018/19. But that is certainly not a given, as they have not travelled well this term and go to Stoke having secured only three away wins from their last 19 games across all competitions (D7, L9).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Stoke right-back Ki-Jana Hoever is enjoying a very strong end to the season, with either a goal or an assist in five of his last six matches (G3, A2), while he also provided an assist in September’s reverse fixture. Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary conceded three that day, but is also finishing the campaign in excellent form and is targeting his 14th league clean sheet of 2023/24.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nine of the last 11 H2Hs have been won by the away team on the day. [/p]