Stoke vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-14 14:00.
As the Championship season nears its conclusion, the window of opportunity to gatecrash the play-offs is rapidly closing for Stoke. A run of just one win from five matches (D3, L1) has left the Potters ten points adrift of the top-six with just five games remaining, leaving any hopes of ending their five-year absence from the top-flight in tatters.
Manager Alex Neil cited the fact his side “didn’t have enough in the final third” as a mitigating factor for their 0-0 draw against Birmingham on Easter Monday. Returning to the Potteries may not be ideal to correct that result either, as only three sides in the division have won fewer points on home soil than Stoke’s 23, while they’ve failed to win both of their last two games at the Bet365 Stadium (D1, L1).
West Brom remain much closer to the play-off shake-up, sitting just five points adrift having played a game less than most of their rivals. Things could’ve been so different for the Baggies who are left kicking themselves after a four-match winless league run saw them miss several opportunities to close the gap (D3, L1), with the fact that three of those saw them drop points after taking the lead sure to sting.
The most painful of those undoubtedly came in Easter Monday’s 2-2 draw with struggling QPR, leading to boss Carlos Corberan laying down the gauntlet that his side “need to win football matches”. With almost no room for error remaining, improving on the road is essential if West Brom are to close the gap as they’re winless in their last six Championship away matches (D1, L5).
Players to watch: Former West Brom turned Stoke forward Dwight Gayle has won four personal H2Hs against the Baggies (D1, L5), only winning more against one other side in his career. Opposite number Daryl Dike could be the man to step up for West Brom, with each of his last five goals arriving before half-time.
Hot stat: Only two teams in the Championship have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes of matches than Stoke (12).