Stoke vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-04-05 14:00.
[p]With six Championship games remaining, Stoke sit five points clear of the relegation zone after being held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Huddersfield on Easter Monday. It took a brilliant long-range strike from Ki-Jana Hoever to salvage a point, and with Steven Schumacher’s side having lost only one of their last four (W2, D1), survival doesn’t seem too far away.[/p]
[p]But as both of those wins came on their travels, Potters fans won’t be filled with optimism as they stream into the Bet365 stadium for the visit of West Brom, whom they first met way back in 1888! At least Stoke have had the better of recent encounters here (W2, L1), although as all three of those games were decided by a one-goal margin, this could be a close-fought contest.[/p]
[p]West Brom showed their willingness to fight as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Watford on Monday, a result which kept them in fifth place. Their eight-point cushion over seventh-placed Coventry means they are getting closer to sealing a play-off place after going unbeaten across their last eight league fixtures (W4, D4).[/p]
[p]If the Baggies are to slip up and fail to make the most of sides below them losing on Monday, then it might be on the road, where seven of their ten league defeats this term have come. That said, Carlos Corberán’s men are unbeaten across their last six such fixtures (W2, D4), with both of those wins coming via three-goal margins against sides keeping Stoke company in the bottom-half.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Hoever’s strike against Huddersfield was his second in as many Stoke games, both of which were the second of the match and arrived after half-time. Another man who is dangerous after the break is West Brom’s Brandon Thomas-Asante, as three of his last four goals – including one against Watford – were scored between the start of the second half and the 75th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Just six of Stoke’s 20 home league games (30%) this season saw both teams score – a Championship low.[/p]